Conflict at Lambing Flat: Memory, Myth & History

– a discussion with Karen Schamberger

Known as a poor man’s goldfield, Lambing Flat became notorious for racist violence in the 1860s. How long did the violence last and why is it remembered as the Birth of White Australia? How can we understand conflicting sources and changing narratives over time? Historian Dr Karen Schamberger has studied the Lambing Flat Riots as part of her PhD thesis, and in particular its interpretation locally as well as nationally. She argues that it’s time to write the Chinese miners’ accounts back into the history of these events. Listen in as Michael Williams talks Chinese Australian history with this outstanding young scholar. Dr Karen Schamberger is an independent historian and curator who is interested in migration history, cross-cultural relations and material culture.

Posted in History, Video

Shirley Fitzgerald “Poison of Polygamy” book launch

The first novel of Chinese Australia, written 1910, translated 2019 by Ely Finch and launched by Dr Shirley Fitzgerald.

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Posted in History, Video

Otto Sing – First Chinese Australian Lawyer

A Presentation by Malcolm Oakes

Otto Kong Sing (1871-1917) was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales on 9 March 1895. To date, no earlier person of Chinese descent has been identified as having been admitted as a solicitor or barrister in NSW or any other Australian colony. After practising in Sydney for several years, Otto Kong Sing relocated to Hong Kong.

Malcolm Oakes is a senior counsel practising at the NSW Bar who has a lay interest in Chinese-Australian history. He has previously published a paper on William Lee, the first barrister of Chinese descent admitted to the NSW Bar in 1938.

Chin Ah Song, the great-grandfather of Malcolm’s wife, Beverley, came to Australia in 1860 and was a Chinese goldminer at Lambing Flat (Young)

History Week – Otto Kong Sing
Don’t miss this exciting presentation by CAHS member Malcolm Oakes as he reveals his exciting new research into the largely forgotten Otto Kong Sing – Australia’s first lawyer from the Chinese Australian community.

Wednesday 5th September
6pm
Clayton Utz – Level 15
1 Bligh Street

RSVP
Daphne Lowe-Kelly
lowekelley@bigpond.com

Posted in Uncategorized

seven boxes of bones

This gem of a letter in the Tung Wah Coffin Home Archives was written and sent in 1934 by Bing Nam (aka Ping Nam), a well known Sydney Chinese merchant from Jung Seng (Zengcheng) to the Tung Wah Coffin Home in Hong Kong. Luen Fook Tong is the organisation based in Sydney for people from or descended from Jung Seng. The letter basically states that seven boxes of bones (53 bodies) are being despatched (shipped) for their eventual repatriation to their relevant home villages. More details click the link:

Posted in Uncategorized