On April 26, a thematic exhibition focusing on the stories of Chinese Australians kicked off at the Guangzhou Library. The exhibition will run on Floor B1 of the library until May 28 and is open to the public free of charge.
The exhibition features two main sections: "Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese in Australia" and "Shared Roots: Stories of Chinese Australians from Guangdong." It traces the historical trajectory and perseverance of Guangdong emigrants to Australia since the 19th century.
Over 1.4 million people in Australia have Chinese ancestry
The history of Chinese Australians dates back to the early 19th century. Over more than 200 years, the Chinese community has become an integral part of Australia's multicultural society. The "Shared Roots: Stories of Chinese Australians from Guangdong" section recounts the story of tens of thousands of Guangdong immigrants who, since the 19th century, crossed the oceans to Australia, working hard, establishing businesses, navigating cultural integration and policy changes, gradually gaining a foothold, expanding their commercial ventures, and reaching out to the world.
This section was initiated by the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou and curated by Sophie Couchman, President of the Professional Historians Association (Victoria & Tasmania). The exhibition systematically organizes extensive historical archives and presents oral records from descendants of Chinese immigrants, combining the migration and struggle stories of ancestors with the perspectives of contemporary immigrant descendants, with a particular emphasis on the contributions made by people of Guangdong origin to Australia's socio-economic development.
Maree Ringland, Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou, noted that over 1.4 million people in Australia have Chinese ancestry, with their stories beginning in South China. She expressed the hope that the exhibition would commemorate the long-standing people-to-people ties between Guangdong and Australia and enhance mutual understanding of this shared history.
Seeking Roots in Guangdong: a call for stories of Aboriginal Chinese Australians
In the "Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese in Australia" section, a family tree listing some members from eight generations of Johnny Ah Sam's family has drawn particular attention. Ah Sam left Guangdong for Australia around 1851 and later married Topsy, a local Aboriginal woman. His family now numbers several hundred people.
This section was curated by Zhou Xiaoping, Artistic Director of the Special Projects at the Museum of Chinese Australian History, based largely on his interviews with over a hundred Aboriginal Chinese and related research. The exhibition, focusing on the Chinese and Aboriginal communities living in Australia, features 46 works including art pieces, video materials, photographs, and documents, which reveal the long and profound historical connections between the two groups.
Traveling with Zhou Xiaoping are three Aboriginal Chinese who are embarking on a roots-seeking journey in Guangdong. Zhou said, "They are very excited to be on this land, which was once the homeland of their ancestors."
To assist these Aboriginal Chinese descendants in finding relatives in Guangdong, the organizers have also launched the "Seeking Roots in Guangdong" campaign to collect leads on Chinese Australian families. The public is encouraged to provide any relevant information, with further details available on the official website of Guangzhou Library.
Exhibition curator Zhou Xiaoping and three Aboriginal Chinese Australians are sharing their stories at the Guangzhou Library.
From right to left: Barbara Peek, Lynette Yu-Mackay, Valerie Craigie, and Zhou Xiaoping.
The exhibition is jointly organized by Guangzhou Library, the Museum of Chinese Australian History, and the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou.
Reporter: Wu Caiqian
Author: Liao Ying (intern), Liu Lingzhi
Photo: Guangzhou Library
