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First Chinese migration into Australia
Fifty-five Chinese laborers migrated to Australia -
Xiamen ship
On the 2nd of October, the ship 'Nimrod' arrived from Xiamen with 120 Chinese, followed by another ship with 123 Chinese aboard. -
Gold Rush
Louis Ah Mouy, sent a letter to his hometown in China explaining the abundance of gold that was being found in Victoria. This attracted more Chinese miners to Australia and between 1851-56, 50000 Chinese arrived in Victoria to work in the goldfields predominantly in Bendigo and Ballarat. -
End of the gold rush
New policies that restricted immigration into Victoria had arisen, fueled by unhappy locals because their gold reserves were going to foreigners. -
Period: to
Population spike
Over 61,000 Chinese came to NSW. They also helped build key infrastructure inc in the Great Northern Railway (SYD-QLD) and the international telegraph line in Darwin, NT. -
Banana trade
The Chinese became dominant in the banana trade following the news of the gold rush. Majority of the profits from this trade were sent back to their home towns to develop stores and provide for their families in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shanghai -
Job seeking
Many Chinese stayed in Australia and took up jobs as chefs, farmers, seamen, cabinet makers etc. -
White Australia policy
The 'White Australia policy' was a set of historical policies that aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origin, especially Asians (primarily Chinese) and Pacific Islanders from immigrating to Australia. These policies were subsequently removed from 1949-1973. -
Australian Federation
In 1901, Australia became its own nation. The Chinese community paraded two dragons through the streets of Melbourne in joint celebrations. -
The Great War
198 Chinese men enlisted with the Australian Army Force to fight in the Great War. Private Billy Sing, a notable Chinese Australian became a hero for his ability with a rifle. -
Urge for Japanese invasion
Jiang Jieshi, a Chinese nationalist politican and military leader, sent a letter to the Chinese in Australia, appealing for their support against the Japanese invasion. Immigration numbers of Chinese to Australia increased as refugees escaping invasion from Japanese forces. -
First Chinese Australian Bank
Bank of China is issued a banking license and opens its first branch in Sydney -
Melbourne Olympics
An Australian born Chinese proposed the idea of marching without the national flags at the closing ceremony. He was later presented a medal even though he did not compete in the competitions, but instead because of his contribution. A Chinese team from Taiwan took part in the Melbourne Olympics. -
Next-level relations
Diplomatic relations were established between Australia and the People's republic of China -
British handover
100,000 Chinese immigrate to Australia post the British handover of Hong Kong -
Free Trade Agreement
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Australia and addresses the federal parliament. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was signed -
Anniversary
December 21, the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Australia
