Planned activities
Talking Chinese Australian History – A series of wide ranging discussions and interviews with leading lights in the field of Chinese Australian history.
Presentations – Zoom based until further notice (next will be September 5th with Darry Low Choy)
Henry Chan lecture – an annual event featuring a China based scholar of Australian studies (next in November).
Promotion of Chinese Australian history – this takes many forms but includes our regular newsletter and the increasingly popular Facebook Group.
Research – This is of course an ongoing activity of the CAHS and involves our website and Facebook group.
Publications – another ongoing activity with a new publication being steered to press as we speak. (Watch this space!)
Heritage – most notably the recent listing of 82-84 Dixon St which is ongoing as well as continuing support for heritage listings around Australia.
Recent Achievements
It is easy to forget how much as been done in the rush to do more but here is a summary of initiatives in the last five years. Below that is a list of specific events going back much further.
- First Talking Chinese Australian History event in August 2020 with Dr Karen Schamberger discussing the Lambing Flat Riots.
- Regular community presentations since 2015 including Lunar New Years and History Week.
- Establishment of the annual Henry Chan lecturers since 2017
- Regular newsletter since 2015
- Established and maintain a website since 2015
- Established and maintain a Facebook Group with regular postings since 2015
- Supported publications of note – The Poison of Polygamy in 2019
- Organised field trips – North Head Quarantine Station (2016), Fong Lee’s Lane (2019), Chinatown tours (numerous since before 2015)
- Translation of the Bew Chip account book in co-operation with the Zhongshan Society, 2018
- Support for the founding of a Museum of Chinese in Australia since 2019
- Instrumental in the heritage listing of the Kwong War Chong building by City of Sydney Council, 2019
- Established and maintain a substantial mailing list since 2015
- Establish a Family History Group 2016
Chronology of past activities
2020
August 2020 – Talking Chinese Australian History Dr Karen Schamberger discussing the Lambing Flat Riots.
Lunar New Year: Traditions and Memoires
2019
July 2019 – Third Henry Chan Lecture:: Li Juanjun, Beijing Foreign Studies University presented on the works and impact of many Australian writers who were published in China during the 1950s and 1960s.
July 2018
July 2018 – Second Henry Chan Lecture: Dr Chen Bing of Peking University, a translator of the works of George Earnest Morrison gave an account of this famous Australian from a Chinese perspective.
Sep 2017 History Week Talk 2017
Aug 2017 Using the National Archives
July 2017 – First Henry Chan Lecture: The inaugural lecture was presented by Dr Selia Tan of Wuyi University, Guangdong who gave a history of the world heritage listed Kaiping diaolou (guntowers) and their connection with Australia.
July 2017 Sydney Cemeteries
Nov 2015 – Visit to North Head Quarantine Station
Jul 2014 – Jun 2015
Jun 2015 AGM with a Talk by Dr Michael Williams and Dr Sophie Loy-Wilson (University of Sydney)
Jul 2013 – Jun 2014
Sep 2013 King Fong’s Chinatown Tour
Nov 2013 HISTORY TALK – The Fall of the Celestial Empire
The decline of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) and its consequences
Jul 2012 – Jun 2013
Aug 2012 Seminar – Sze Yup Temple in Glebe – Past, Present and Future by Helen Fong
Jul 2011 – Jun 2012
Sep 2011 Cantonese Cuisine in Sydney with traditional village style ‘Poon Choy’ tasting 盆菜宴
King Fong’s Chinatown Tour
Jul 2010 – Jun 2011
Sep 2010 Hong Kong to NSW – Chinese Labourers in Australia in the 19th Century, feature event for NSW History Week 2010
King Fong’s Chinatown Tour
Jul 2009 – Jun 2010
Sep 2009 CAHS Annual Dinner | King Fong’s Chinatown Tour
Jul 2008 – Jun 2009
Sep 2008 Stepping ashore: How to research your Chinese family history
Jul 2007 – Jun 2008
Feb 2008 Celebrate Chinese New Year with Tony Ayres – Chinese Australian Women’s Life Stories Down Under workshop
2003 – 2004
Quong Tart Centenary
Chinese Australian Historical Society 