The Narrative of Bendigo Chinese

DAI GUM SAN THE NARRATIVE OF BENDIGO CHINESE

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Previous - Visiting team, Chung Wah Society Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe (CWS), performs in the annual ‘Awakening of the Dragon’ event.

Current - Sun Loong exits from the Golden Dragon Museum to parade in ‘Bendigo’s Annual Easter Gala Parade.’

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CONTENTS

The Gold Rush

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Community

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The Beginning of something Greater

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The Golden Dragon Museum The Dragon that saved Bendigo Bendigo’s Imperial Dragons

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The Bendigo Easter Festival Chinese Celebrations

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Looking to the Future

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How Bendigo is saving a Hong Kong Tradition Acknowledgements

52 Visiting Sydney team, the Chinese Youth League Lion and Dragon Dance Australia (CYL), parade

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in ‘Bendigo’s Annual Easter Gala Parade.’

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THE 6

GOLD RUSH

1 - Oil lamps made from brass and copper were used in the dark mines, deep underground.

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THE GOLD RUSH

The Chinese came to Australia from 1852, in part driven out by conflict in southern China. Sandhurst, now known as the greater city of Bendigo, was one of six Victorian gold mining centres that attracted the Chinese, who were mostly from Guangdong Province, and was referred to as the Dai Gum San - the Big Gold Mountain.

Upon arrival at Sandhurst, they took up residence in one of several camps connected to a home district in China. By 1855, 5,325 Chinese lived in nine camps in Sandhurst. The Chinese population decreased to 1,000 in 1859, but by 1868 had increased again to 3,500.

The Ironbark Chinese camp was the largest residential area and the focus of business activity for Chinese people in the Sandhurst district. Camps were also located at Golden Gully, Spring Gully, Back Creek, White Hills, Long Gully, Myers Flat, Peg Leg and Eaglehawk. In 1866, 1,853 Chinese were recorded as alluvial gold miners, along with 4,870 European alluvial miners and 4,318 European quartz miners.

The Chinese treated mine tailings and reworked gold sites abandoned by Europeans. Most Chinese people in Sandhurst also came from farming backgrounds, bringing their expertise in market gardening with them. Other skills translated to the goldfields included brickmaking, harvesting, woodcrafts and material weaving.

Chinese people were the target of discriminatory legislation. In 1855, the Commission Appointed to Inquire into the Conditions of the Goldfields reported, amongst other matters, on the question of Chinese immigration to the goldfields.

As a result, the Act to make provision for certain Immigrants was passed that not only controlled the number of immigrants allowed on each ship arriving in Victoria, but it also imposed a £10 entrance tax on the shipmaster.

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2 - The Historical Bendigo Law Courts was opened in 1896, and was built by a well-known architect of the time, George. W. Watson.

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THE GOLD RUSH

To avoid this tax, most Chinese migrants landed near Robe

Over these years, sustained resistance and tax evasion by

in South Australia and walked to Dai Gum San, or New Gold

Victorian Chinese, as well as problems with enforcing the

Mountain, as the goldfields of central Victoria were known.

legislation, contributed to the removal of the taxes on

Chinese diggers rallied in protest against the tax by forming the

Chinese immigrants and residents in 1862 and 1863.

‘United Confederacy of Chinese’ throughout the goldfields of Victoria, including Sandhurst. Over the five years from 1856-61, local Chinese ‘framed their arguments in a more sophisticated manner’ in a series of petitions against these discriminatory measures.

Restrictions remained in force and in 1857 South Australia also imposed a £10 poll tax on Chinese people entering that colony.

There were serious anti-Chinese riots at the Buckland River diggings in north-east Victoria in 1857 and a number of Chinese relocated at this time to Heathcote. In addition, in 1859 the Victorian government introduced a residence tax.

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Despite their removal, these measures had an impact: from 1861 to 1881, Victoria’s Chinese population decreased from 24,724 to 11,869. The Shop and Factories Act of 1896 made it difficult for Chinese manufacturers to compete with Europeans and the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, known as the White Australia Policy, effectively halted Chinese immigration.

A strong Chinese presence nonetheless remained in Bendigo. A

3 - The Bamboo and blossom Gardens

contributing factor to this ongoing presence was the willingness

located on the Dai Gum San Precinct.

of Bendigo’s Chinese immigrants to actively participate in work including gold mining, market gardening and storekeeping, as

4 - The Chinese (Canton) characters mean ‘Big Gold,’ ‘Dai Gum.’

well as local community life beyond their own camps.

In particular, over the period 1862 to 1882, when immigration and taxation restrictions were relaxed or removed, the Chinese, through their significant contribution to the city’s economic and cultural life, challenged cultural perceptions and came to be valued as an important part of the local community.

GOLDFIELDS

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5 - The Chinese brought many materials, such as silk and bamboo. and skills that were new 12 to the Eurpoean settlers.

COMMUNITY

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6 - The Bendigo Easter Festival holds a large market full of handcrafts, food stalls, plant life, innovations and many

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small businesses.

COMMUNITY

THE CHINESE KILN AND THE MARKET GARDENS In 2005, an archaeological dig at Thunder Street, North Bendigo, unearthed the only known Chinese industrial brick-making kiln outside China. In 1859, A’Fok, Fok Sing and Co had applied for a lease of ground near the Chinese encampment for the purpose of brick-making. They started building when the lease was settled, and it looks like the kiln was in operation by October of that year. It consists of a three-metre long firebox leading into a domed chamber, around 10 metres in diameter, with a chimney at the rear. Using wood as fuel, it’s estimated to have reached around 1200 degrees Celsius, a much higher temperature than standard European kilns.

It operated from 1859 to the late 1880s; Ah Jet bought the land in 1886 and operated a market garden on it as well from that time. When the kiln was finally abandoned, it was covered over.

Although the kiln was mostly safe underground after its final firing, it did have one near-brush with disaster. In 1912, the banks of the creek below the market gardens and kiln site were blasted away with a sluicing nozzle to get to the gold in the banks. Had the blast hit the kiln, the site would have been irreparably damaged.

The Chinese Kiln and Market Garden is of historical significance for its association with Chinese settlement in Bendigo and as tangible evidence of the lives and enterprise of Chinese immigrants who came in large numbers to the Victorian goldfields during the second half of the 19th century. It had considerable importance to the large Chinese camp of Ironbark, established in 1855, which is the only Chinese Camp in Bendigo to have persisted into the 20th century.

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COMMUNITY

THE JOSS HOUSE The Bendigo Chinese Masonic Temple, also known as The Joss House, is reputed to have been constructed in the 1860s by immigrant Chinese who had come to seek their fortunes as miners on the Victorian goldfields. ‘Joss House’ was a European name for a Chinese place of worship, association or congregation.

The temple was one of a number whose construction was reported by contemporary newspapers but is the only temple surviving from the goldrush period in country Victoria. The temple was dedicated to the deity Chit Kung Tang but the inscription above the door reads ‘Chinese Masonic Hall’.

The temple fell into disrepair after being abandoned by the declining Chinese mining population. The site was subsequently incorporated into land held by the Commonwealth for defence production purposes during the Second World War. In the 1960s and 1970s the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) carried out a campaign to repair the building and to interpret its use and subsequently leased the site of the Temple from the Commonwealth Department of Defence. The complex is composed of an ancestral hall to the right and the temple in the centre. A caretaker’s residence originally occupied the adjacent hall to the left and is now used as an interpretation centre.

The temple and ancestral hall are brick while the residence is timber with a brick facade; floors are either brick or asphalt. The contents of the interior were imported from China in the early 1970s to display the traditional arrangement of a hall and temple.

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7 - Incense is used at Chinese ceremonies, performances and temples as an offering of prayer and respect to gods and past elders.

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THE

BEGINNING

8 - Before a Chinese Lion or Dragon is brought to life, they are blessed. This involves dotting the eyes with pig’s blood and tying ceremonial scrolls, fresh leaves and a bow to the horn of the creature.

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OF SOMETHING GREATER

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After the Gold Rush, the town of Sandhurst, Bendigo, started

THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GREATER

to have a decrease of population and visitors. The organisers of the city decided to have a fair, a festival called the Bendigo Easter Fair, and it was used to be a fundraiser. The fair was to raise money for the Bendigo Base Hospital, also known then as the Benevolent Asylum.

The Chinese community was renowned for their colourful ceremonies within their camps. The fair organisers asked the Chinese to perform at the Bendigo Easter Fair. The performances were very well received and highly regarded as the best aspect of the Bendigo Easter Festival.

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SANDHURST The Chinese community continued to perform and

9 - Bendigo Chinese Association (BCA)

participate in the fair year after year. It was a great way for

Plum Blossom Dance Team performs

them to show their culture and show their traditions in the public arena, and arguably was the first introduction of Chinese culture to Australia. The Bendigo Easter Fair started

the ‘Umbrella dance.’

10 - Chung Wah Society Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe (CWS) perform the ‘Long Fan Dance.’

to become an annual event in 1870s. In 1871, the Bendigo Chinese Association was established.

The Bendigo Chinese Association sections of the parade soon became one of the parade’s most interesting and elaborate sections. In these early performances the Chinese used regalia they had made in Australia themselves or brought with them from China.

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In 1882, the Chinese community decided that if they were

THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GREATER

going to raise money for charity, they then should do it on a grand scale. There were adverts in newspapers asking for any groups in the Bendigo region to help promote and make the Easter Festival parade bigger and better.

The Bendigo Chinese Association community leaders decided to place a levy on all Chinese in the region to buy items for use in the Easter Parade. Through this levy, £750 was raised. It was sent to China and used to acquire a number of crates full of richly embroidered theatrical costumes. The costumes were really important because what it allowed was an integration into society. The money was sent to Canton and over 100 crates of textiles, costumes arrived in Australia.

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There were enough costumes to fit hundreds of players into

11 - Bendigo Chinese Association Plum Blossom

theatrical Chinese court, with scholars, generals, soldiers,

Dancer displays a blue silk costume in the

princesses and an emperor. The regalia was once kept in the Chinese camp, Emu Point, currently known as North Bendigo, where the Joss House stands.

In 1913, there was a major fire. The Chinese went into the

annual ‘Gala Parade.’

12 - Annually, a female member with a line of Chinese blood history is given the honour of becoming the princess, and wears the Golden Dragon Museum regalia in the Bendigo parades.

building to retrieve all the regalia, and not for their personal belongings. The rest of the camp had burnt down. It was lucky that everything from the 1890 period was preserved.

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THE GOLDEN DRAGON MUSEUM

The success of the Bendigo Chinese Association continued to grow in popularity amongst Bendigo and its thousands of visitors for the Bendigo Easter Fair. Members of the Association became diverse, as Caucasian, Chinese and anyone could join.

The collection of regalia also increased, and so a solution to store and preserve these artefacts required action. In the 1980s, Russell Jack and his wife, Joan Jack, pushed forward his vision for a Chinese museum, and acquired architect, Harry Charalambous, incorporated Chinese symbolism and architecture with distinctly Australian materials, such as corrugated iron and red brick.

In 1991, the Bendigo Chinese Association opened the Golden Dragon Museum with the purpose to protect, preserve and teach the history of Bendigo’s Chinese community. The Golden Dragon Museum is established upon one of the original Bendigo Chinatown, Bridge Street, which was demolished in the late 19th century to 1964 to make room for a carpark. The Golden Dragon Museum grew with artefacts and historical items donated by Chinese families and members of the Association, with some of the collection dating back to the Shang Dynasty, 1600-1026BC.

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Russell Jack held to the vision of the Golden Dragon Museum

13 - Silk fabric was a Chinese invention

and Bendigo Chinese Association as President and Director

created in 2696 BC, with a high significance

for 32 years before stepping down in 2012. Nevertheless, Jack remains an active member within the association beside his son, David, and daughter, Anita, whom plans to step up from General

to the culture and economy.

14 - Russell Jack walks within the 2019 ‘Gala parade,’ with the Bendigo Chinese Association section.

Manager of the Museum and enter as first Chief Executive Officer in 2020. Mr Jack was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1993 for his work on preserving Bendigo’s Chinese heritage, and City of Greater Bendigo Citizen of the Year in 2008.

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THE

DRAGON

THAT SAVED BENDIGO

15 - The mirror featured on the forehead of Chinese Lions and Dragons is believed to reflect and expel the evil spirits and bad energy away. The bad spirits are frightened by their own appearance.

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THE DRAGON THAT SAVED BENDIGO

The Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou (Canton) and its

The Gold Rush lead the Government to implement the Anti-

surrounding regions are home to a rich dragon parade tradition

Chinese legislation, and, in 1901, the White Australian Policy.

that Cantonese migrants brought with them to Bendigo in the

Though, through this time, the Europeans in Bendigo were

nineteenth century. In 1891, they obtained from China Bendigo’s

supporting and assisting the Chinese community to make sure

first processional dragon for use in the annual Easter Fair,

that the regalia was displayed and paraded every Easter Fair.

that remains a charity fundraising event in which the Chinese community has been active in contributing a gala parade from 1879 to the present day.

It was the beginning of a successful community driven event that brought cultures together. In 1901, Bendigo’s tourism spiked with the introduction of Bendigo’s iconic Imperial Dragon

Bendigo’s dragon tradition has been continuous from that time

‘Loong,’ and is referred to as ‘the Dragon that saved Bendigo.’

and has become a part of our local culture and heritage of which

Loong, along with hundreds of other artefacts lead the Bendigo

Bendigo’s diversity of people from all backgrounds are proud

Chinese community and Bendigo council to build the Golden

and can participate in. Without the involvement and invitation

Dragon Museum in 1990 for perseveration. The large historical

of the Chinese settlers at Bendigo’s first Easter Fair, Bendigo’s

and cultural collection continues to grow and be displayed for

tourism would have arguably remained quiet as a small mining

the public. The Museum now holds 9 processional dragons.

town within the late 1800s.

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16 - Dai Gum Loong parades for the first time in the ‘2019 Bendigo Easter Gala procession.’

17 - Dai Gum Loong parades along Chapel Street.

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BENDIGO’S IMPERIAL DRAGONS

LOONG

Loong is the oldest intact processional dragon in the world. He

During his parading career Loong made a number of

made his first processional appearance in 1901 and was the star

important appearances outside of Bendigo, most notably at

attraction of Bendigo’s annual Easter parade until his retirement

the May 1901 procession in Melbourne to welcome the Duke

in 1970. He was created by the Sing Cheung workshop in the city

and Duchess of York who had come to open the first Australian

of Foshan (Fatshan) on the Pearl River near Guangzhou (Canton)

parliament – a century later he also appeared in the Melbourne

in southern China. Loong was constructed from silks, mirrors,

parade which marked the centenary of the achievement of

bamboo, kingfisher feathers, and papier-mâché. His name

Australian Federation.

simply means “dragon”, but historically he was also referred to by the Chinese community as Gum Loong (Golden Dragon) and Moo Loong (Dancing Dragon).

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In 2007 Loong was placed on Victoria’s heritage register due to his historic and cultural significance. Loong requires 22 male carriers and is 29 meters long. His head weighs 29kg.

18, 19 - Retired Dragon, Loong, parades in the 2019 ‘Gala parade’ to welcome Dai Gum Loong to Bendigo.

20 - The Chinese (Canton) character means ‘Dragon,’ ‘Loong.’

DRAGON 31 31

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NEW DRAGON BENDIGO’S IMPERIAL DRAGONS

SUN LOONG

Sun Loong was brought from Hong Kong to replace Loong in 1970. He was created by the Lo On Kee workshop, a traditional 21, 22 - Sun Loong parades for

lion and dragon builder. The hand-made mirrored scales,

the last time in the ‘2019

thousands of beads, and long skirts of his body are based on the

Bendigo Easter Gala parade.’

Qing Dynasty style of his predecessor Loong, as are aspects of

23 - The Chinese (Canton) characters

the design of his imposing head. Before his first appearance in

mean ‘New Dragon,’ Sun Loong.’

1970, he was blessed and ritually brought to life by 101-year-old Mr James Lew who dotted his eyes with chicken blood in the traditional manner.

Sun Loong has gone on parade every year since his arrival in Bendigo and made his first (and only) appearance outside of his home town at Lunar New Year festivities in Melbourne in February 2018. Sun Loong is being over 100 metres in length, requiring 1 person to carry the head, 3 people to carry the neck, 52 people to carry the body, 1 person to carry the tail and up to 52 reliefs. Carrying the head of the dragon has always been considered a position of honour, being reserved for those with a long record of service and commitment to the Bendigo Chinese Association. Sun Loong requires 57 male carriers and is approximately 100 meters long. He is covered in 6,000 scales, 90,000 mirrors, 40,000 beads, and his head weighs 20.5kg.

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24 - Dai Gum Loong is blessed by the Bendigo Chinese Association elders at the ‘Dotting of the Eye ceremony.’

25 - The Chinese (Canton) characters mean ‘Big Gold Dragon,’ ‘Dai Gum Loong.’

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BIG GOLD DRAGON BENDIGO’S IMPERIAL DRAGONS

DAI GUM LOONG

Dai Gum Loong was brought from Hong Kong to replace Sun Loong in 2019. He was created by Hung C Lau Ltd workshop, a traditional lion and dragon builder. The mirrored scales, thousands of beads, and long skirts of his body are based on the Qing Dynasty style of his predecessor Loong, just like Sun Loong, keeping the lineage of these dragons unique and unseen anywhere else in the world.

Dai Gum Loong was blessed and ritually brought to life by 84-year-old Mr Russell Jack AM. This is done by the elders of the Bendigo Chinese Association, whom would dot the eyes with chicken blood in the traditional manner.

Dai Gum Loong will carry out the tradition of parading every year. Dai Gum Loong is the longest Imperial style Dragon in the world, being over 120 metres in length, requiring 1 person to carry the head, 3 people to carry the neck, 70 people to carry the body, 1 person to carry the tail and up to 52 reliefs. Carrying the head of the dragon has always been considered a position of honour, being reserved for those with a long record of service and commitment to the Golden Dragon Museum and the Bendigo Chinese Association.

Dai Gum Loong is covered in 7,000 scales, 100,000 mirrors, 60,000 beads, and his head weighs 20kg.

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THE 36

BENDIGO

EASTER FESTIVAL

26 - The Bendigo Easter Festival is the biggest local event of the year, attracting many visitors to see the Longest Imperial Dragons in the world.

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THE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL

The Bendigo Easter Festival, once known as the Bendigo Easter Fair holds significant importance to the community of Bendigo, running annually on the Easter long weekend. Throughout the weekend, the festival holds many activities such as carnival rides, food stalls, markets, kids activities, tours, Easter egg hunts, diverse performances, including live music and more.

However, the Bendigo Chinese Association shines as the pinnacle attraction, with large showcase events held at the Golden Dragon Museum precinct.

Aside from their cultural importance, the dragons are vital to Bendigo’s economy. Loong, Sun Loong and Dai Gum Loong are all owned by the city, and are cared for at the Golden Dragon Museum. The Easter parade is the city’s largest event, drawing 100,000 visitors from all over, a majority of whom come specifically to see the dragon. Bendigo has a population of over 100,000, establishing that Bendigo’s Easter Festival is an annually famous event throughout Australia.

Bendigo relies on their dragons as a major economic driver. All marketing materials for the city feature a photo of Sun Loong; the dragons are synonymous with Bendigo itself. The Easter parade earns the city A$20 million a year. It is so popular that visitors must book accommodation more than six months in advance for five consecutive nights or risk staying outside the city.

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VIEW ST

27 - Hong De Lion Dance Association Melbourne perform tricks with their dragon along the ‘Gala parade.’

28 - Rosalind Park is filled with music, stalls, markets and entertainment on the Easter weekend.

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THE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL

CHINESE SPRING FESTIVAL

AWAKENING OF THE DRAGON

The Chinese Spring Festival draws traditions of the Lunar

Before a dragon can appear at a procession, he has to be

New Year to the morning of Easter Saturday and before

“awakened” from his year-long sleep. A great deal of noise

the Awakening of the Dragon. The Chinese Spring Festival

is required to waken him. This is done through the many

dates back to the beginning of the Shang Dynasty about

showcasing performances and the grand finale of 100,000

4000 years ago. During this time, the Spring Festival began

firecrackers being set alight. The Awakening of the Dragon

as a tradition of respect to ancestors and deities during the

showcases the Bendigo Chinese Association Dragon, Lion, and

close and beginning of years. When China’s economy became

Plum Blossom Dance teams, as well as allow the visiting Chinese

heavily involved in agricultural production, the Spring Festival

Associations to perform, such as the Darwin,Melbourne, Cairns,

began to be celebrated for the incoming warm weather and

Sydney, Perth and Hong Kong Dragon and Lion teams.

planting of crops.

During the set of performances, the traditional Awakening

The Spring Festival showcase allows the junior members of

of the Lion is performed by the Bendigo Chinese Association

the Lion and Dance teams to perform. The visiting Lion and

Lion Team. Within the legends, Lions are the guardians and

Dragon teams also present acts to entertain, such as drummer

protectors of the dragons, and must be awakened first.

routines, cultural dances and martial arts.

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29 - Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne (CYSM) perform at the ‘Awakening of the Dragon 2019.’

30 - Chinese Youth League Lion and Dragon Dance Australia (CYL) performs alongside other lion teams in the beginning of the ‘Awakening of the Dragon 2019.’

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THE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION

GALA PARADE

The Torchlight procession is a night parade held annually on

The Gala Parade is the annual day parade held on Easter

Easter Saturday night, after the Spring Festival and Awakening of

Sunday. The Gala Parade features more organisations, floats and

the Dragon. The parade has a diversity of Bendigo and regional

performers than the Torchlight Procession. The parade originates

organisations with colourful floats, costumes, performers, teams

from the top of View Street and goes towards the Pall Mall, along

and luminous lights. This night festival celebrates ‘Light’ and

McCrae Street and Bridge Street. The locals know to reserve

‘Luminosity,’ with glowing floats, costumes covered in lights,

their seats early in the morning for the parade in the afternoon.

and candles. Bendigo’s parades are so popular that it is known

This parade showcases colour to celebrate Bendigo’s diversity

people get up early in the morning to reserve their seat on the

of cultures. Included in the parade are many nationalities

parade line for that night.

represented through costumes, floats and performers, such as

At the end of the parade are all the national and international Lion teams and the Bendigo Chinese Association, for a grand finish. The conclusion of the parade signals the beginning of the

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Corporation, Bendigo Highland Pipe Band, Bendigo Australia Indonesian Klub, Bendigo Filipino Foundation and TIAN GUO Marching Band.

fireworks display in Rosalind Park, opposite the Dai Gum San

As the parade proceeds, the loud drums, crashing cymbals,

Precinct and Golden Dragon Museum.

firecrackers and every Lion and Dragon team surround the Golden Dragon Museum entrance, ready for all the dragons to finally come out of the Museum. As each visiting teams’ Dragons come out, the team’s set of Lions lead them and instrumental to the line of parade. The last team to leave the precinct is the Bendigo Chinese Association, whom will lead Sun Loong and Dai Gum Loong, the longest imperial dragons in the world.

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31, 32 - The Bendigo Chinese Association is the grand finale to the ‘Gala parade’ every year. The Chinese Lions always lead ahead of the Big Dragons to protect them.

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33 - Bendigo Chinese Association visits the Bendigo Stupa to bless the temple.

34 - A Southern Lions’ movements are very cat-like; sharp, agile and quick.

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OTHER CHINESE CELEBRATIONS

CHINESE NEW YEAR

HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL

Lunar New Year has a history dating back thousands of years

The Harvest Moon festival is celebrated in different forms

and is one of the oldest and most important traditions in Asian

throughout many Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia,

culture. It is celebrated widely by Asian communities all over

Japan, Vietnam, India, Thailand and China. The Harvest Moon

the world. Lunar New Year is the celebration of the beginning

festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Lantern

of spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) as well as the New Year.

Festival, takes place each year on the fifteenth day of the eighth

Festivities mark the beginning of the 15 days’ observing ancient

lunar month. This is the date of the Autumn Equinox, when the

traditions, customs and honouring the rich community culture.

moon is at its farthest point from the earth and hence appears

The occasion is all about reunion, family, thankfulness, blessing,

bright and completely round.

prosperity and celebration.

Traditionally the Moon Festival marks the end of the summer

During this time, many businesses organise Chinese Lion teams

harvest. To the farmers of China, the festival is a celebration of

to bless the shops. During these performances, it is common for

thankfulness for heaven’s bounty. It has been celebrated by the

the Lions to eat and spray the shop front with cabbage leaves

Chinese people since at least the first century.

or mandarin. This is believed to bring good luck and prosperity through the business in the coming year.

Although, celebrations are different in each country the festivals share common themes of thanksgiving for the harvest, future prosperity and health of families and friends. The Golden Dragon Museum holds an annual celebration under the full moon in Spring, showcasing a diversity of cultural dances and performances, as well as firecrackers.

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LOOKING 46

TO THE FUTURE

35 - Dai Gum Loong was so big, the the Association had to assemble him off site and in a stadium. The Golden Dragon Museum have plans to build a larger Chinese Museum.

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

There is now a push to return traditional Chinese businesses to the area as part of a $16 million plan to construct modern commercial spaces in a southward extension of the museum, to be known as “Bendigo’s China Town”.

The museum will be rebranded as the National Chinese Museum of Australia and will allow for a greater telling of Chinese Goldfields history as well as hosting nationally significant exhibitions, using “immersive” modern methods of storytelling.

There is now a push to return traditional Chinese businesses

The first stage involves upgrading the Golden Dragon Museum

to the area as part of a $16 million plan to construct modern

with new commercial spaces and expansion of the museum

commercial spaces in a southward extension of the museum,

itself, along with rebranding as the National Chinese Museum of

to be known as “Bendigo’s China Town”.

Australia. This is expected to cost around $16 million. The second

The museum will be rebranded as the National Chinese Museum of Australia and will allow for a greater telling of Chinese Goldfields history as well as hosting nationally significant exhibitions, using “immersive” modern methods of storytelling.

stage of the project – costed at $22 million – involves renovating the current museum. The upgrade, as suggested by the Chair, Doug Lougoon, was needed to secure the future of the museum, which continually faces funding uncertainty, as there has been no capital investment since the museum’s inception in 1991.

DAI GUM SAN 48

A funding commitment of $10 million for the project was

36 - Hung Gar Yau Shu Martial Arts School

sought during the state election campaign, with the federal

(HGYS) present their Chinese Drumming

government asked to provide $5 million and the City of Greater Bendigo $1 million. It was one of the council’s main infrastructure priorities. The Bendigo council and Chinese

team at the ‘Awakening of the Dragon 2019.’

37 - Chung Wah Society Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe (CWS) perform their showcase performance.

association have set their sights on the federal government and opposition for a funding commitment before the 2019 federal election.

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HOW BENDIGO IS SAVING A HONG KONG TRADITION

Anita Jack, managing director of the Golden Dragon Museum, Daniel Beck, vice president of the museum, and Ben Devanny, from the Bendigo City Council, along with their translator, Heidi Yeung travelled from Australia to the hamlet of Pak Sha Tsuen, Hong Kong, in search of a dragon maker. As Sun Loong drew close to his 50 year anniversary, the hunt for a new Imperial Dragon was a journey that had taken years of travelling around Asia and research to find the dying art and handcraft of dragon making.

The chosen dragon maker, and several other artisans in Hong Kong were selected by the Golden Dragon Museum to study and revive century-old arts. In the creation of Dai Gum Loong, the museum encouraged and hoped that the makers will revive lost skills through diligent study of the past. Their aim is to learn to make dragons, in the Qing style, by examining the museum’s unique collection and reverse engineering the process. Loong is the oldest dragon in the world because of his immigrant origins and remote antipodean home.

With many thanks to its uninterrupted tradition of folk-art, Hong Kong remains the birthplace of dragons. But in the process of modernisation, today’s dragon-making uses new materials and old skills have been lost forever. To complicate matters, Hong Kong’s climate has ensured the demise of every single one of its old imperial dragons. The humidity rots their silk and paper hides. When this occurs, these damaged dragons are curled around their heads in preparation for a ceremonial burning; their tattered remains returned to the heavens out of respect.

For the people of Bendigo, burning Loong was not an option.

The Museum knew that there was a lot of pressure from the Caucasian community to preserve Loong, as he was well loved and treasured.

This blend of cultures has delivered Loong from the pyre and saved his kind from extinction. It is recognised by many external parties and cities that Bendigo’s dragon collections are keeping the international, century-old tradition and skills alive.

38 - As well as the newly designed Chinese Southern Lions, Bendigo Chinese Association respects the traditional handcrafts of the

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original Chinese Lions.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Bendigo Chinese Association Museum

39 - Chinese Youth League Lion and

City of Greater Bendigo

Dragon Dance Australia (CYL) begin

Victorian Government

the march of the ‘2019 Gala parade,’

Thank you to all the visiting Chinese Associations, International and Domestic

exiting the Dai Gum San precinct.

Featured Teams within this publication include: Bendigo Chinese Association (BCA) Cairns Lion and Dragon Dancers Chinese Youth League Lion and Dragon Dance Australia (CYL) Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne (CYSM) Chung Wah Society Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe (CWS) Hong De Lion Dance Association Melbourne Hung Gar Yau Shu Martial Arts School (HGYS)

Bendigo Chinese Association Museum (2016 -2019), Dai Gum Loong. Bendigo Chinese Association. http://www.daigumloong.com.au/registration/ Bendigo Chinese Association Inc. (2019), About BCA/ Performance Teams/ Events. Bendigo Chinese Association Incorporated. http://bendigochinese.org.au/ City of Greater Bendigo Council (2013), Annual Report (2013) Thematical Environmental History. City of Greater Bendigo. https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016-09/FINAL_REPORT_Thematic_ Environmental_ History_with_bibliography_June_2013.pdf Cultural Victoria, Victorian Government (2016), Dai Gum San. Big Gold Dragon. Victorian Government. https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/a-diverse-state/dai-gum-san-big-gold-mountain/dai-gum-san-big-goldmountain/ Cultural Victoria, Victorian Government (2016), Immigrants and Emigrants, Many Roads: Chinese on the Goldfields/ Ceremony Duty, Joss House and Temples. Victorian Government. https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/ immigrants-and-emigrants/many-roads-chinese-on-the-goldfields/anna-kyi-full-interview/ Heritage Council of Victoria (2019), Victorian Council Database: Bendigo Chinese. Victorian Government. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/ History.com Editors (2019), Chinese New Year 2019. A&E Television Network. https://www.history.com/topics/ holidays/chinese-new-year Holmes. A (2019), ‘China Town,’ bigger museum and a rebranding: Funding sought to create a National Chinese Museum of Australia in Bendigo. Bendigo Advertiser. https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/ story/5772526/china-town-national-chinese-museum-plans-seek-funding-in-bendigo/ Kingsley. T.A (2006), Chinese history artefacts rescued from the earth in Bendigo. ABC Central Victoria. https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2006/10/12/1763246.htm Lougoon. D (2019) Introducing the Golden Dragon Museum. Golden Dragon Museum. https://www.amaga.org.au/sites/default/files/uploaded-content/field_f_position_file/introducing_golden_ dragon_museum_a4_web.pdf Nations Online (2018) Chinese Customs: Lion Dance. Nations Online. https://www.nationsonline.org/ oneworld/Chinese_Customs/lion_dance.htm Premier of Victoria (2019), World’s Longest Chinese Dragon Awakens in Bendigo. Victorian Government. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/worlds-longest-chinese-dragon-awakens-in-bendigo/ Zolima LTD. (2018), The Immigrant Dragon: How Australia is saving a Hong Kong tradition. Zolima Limited. https://zolimacitymag.com/the-immigrant-dragons-how-australia-is-saving-a-hong-kong-tradition/

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DAI GUM SAN THE NARRATIVE OF BENDIGO CHINESE At the core of the Bendigo Easter Festival is the history of Bendigo’s Chinese. It is a story of settlement, rights, tradition, culture, and community acceptance. From the Gold Rush beginnings to a Nationally known Easter Festival, the significance of the Bendigo Chinese Association to Bendigo’s culture underrecognized.

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