Brochure to hold city’s Chinese history

WITH Harmony Fest in full swing, Ballarat’s Chinese Heritage Trail brochure was launched early last week featuring landmarks tied to the region’s Chinese history.

The program was developed between the Chinese Australian Cultural Society Ballarat, the City of Ballarat, Ballarat Chinese Community Association, the Ballarat Cemeteries Trust, and the Ballarat Chinese Community committee.

Chinese Australian Cultural Society Ballarat vice-president Charles Zhang said the new trail provided an update for Ballarat’s historically significant Chinese sites.

“This is actually the second version of the pamphlet. The first was developed more than 20 years ago.

“The first version mainly showed the information that was there some 20 years ago, and now there’s more information available for our Chinese heritage sites.

“There’s important information that’s been added in, for instance the [Xin Jin Shan] Chinese Library and Victory House which has been part of our heritage for more than 100 years and will hopefully be opened as a Chinese heritage museum.”

Other sites to feature in the brochure include the old and new Chinese cemeteries, Sovereign Hill, Main Road’s Open Monument, and the Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant, which was previously the site for the region’s Chinese arch.

Mr Zhang said the significance of the updated trail is in its continual preservation of Ballarat’s Chinese history for newer generations.

“With the Chinese Library, for example, it’s about the history we’re making now future reference.

“In a couple years’ time we’re going to be adding more information in so now we’re collecting that information and looking at if there’s any more projects happening.”

The brochure can be found at Town Hall and the Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library.