Public Events

Watch this space!

Sharing Chinese Heritage at the Cambridge Rotary Club

On Wednesday, 23 July, Lucy Hair delivered a breakfast talk to the Cambridge Rotary Club. Despite the rainy weather, an engaged audience gathered to hear her speak on Chinese occupations in Western Australia before World War II. In a period marked by restrictive immigration policies, Chinese Australians were largely confined to a narrow range of occupations—most commonly working in market gardens, laundries, cabinet-making workshops, retail businesses, or as domestic servants.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Cambridge Rotary Club for the kind invitation and warm welcome.

Lucy Hair Delivers 2025 Wilson History Oration on Chinese History in Western Australia

On Wednesday, 5 June 2025, Professional Historians Australia hosted the 2025 Wilson History Oration, featuring a thought-provoking presentation by Lucy Hair titled Revisiting the Past: Researching Chinese History in Western Australia. 

Drawing on the digitised archive of historian Dr Anne Atkinson, whose pioneering research in the 1980s and 1990s documented the lives of Chinese migrants in WA, Lucy reflected on the intellectual and emotional experience of working with another historian’s legacy. Her oration explored the joys, surprises, and ethical considerations that arise when revisiting and reinterpreting earlier scholarship from a contemporary perspective. Weaving together personal reflections, archival fragments, and broader historiographical questions, Lucy’s talk offered a compelling meditation on continuity and change in the practice of history itself. 

Attendees from across Australia joined the live-streamed event, which prompted lively discussion and underscored the enduring relevance of Chinese Australian histories in the nation’s collective memory. 

We thank Professional Historians Australia for presenting this important oration and extend our appreciation to all who participated.

A recording of the oration is available to view below.

Discovery Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Bunbury

On Saturday, 24 May 2025, as part of a state-wide initiative to celebrate and explore Chinese Australian heritage, the City of Bunbury hosted a special workshop at the Bunbury Public Library presented by Professor Benjamin Smith and Associate Professor Yu Tao. 

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Friendship City relationship between Bunbury and Jiaxing, China, the event introduced the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia digital portal—a growing public resource that highlights the lives, labour, and legacies of Chinese Australians across the state. 

Ben and Yu guided participants through the interactive platform, demonstrating how the tool can be used to uncover local stories and deepen historical understanding. They also shared moving accounts of Chinese individuals and families who contributed to Bunbury’s social and cultural fabric, sparking rich conversations with attendees. We thank the City of Bunbury and Bunbury Public Libraries for hosting the workshop, and all participants for joining us in celebrating this shared history.

We extend our sincere thanks to the City of Bunbury and Bunbury Public Libraries for so warmly hosting the workshop, and to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success. We are especially grateful to David Bailey, Chair of the Bunbury–Jiaxing Friendship City Committee, as well as to Juaini Taylor and Qing Ye, whose kind invitation and generous support were instrumental in bringing this event to life.

Remembering Chinese Cabinet Makers in Early 20th-Century Perth

On Tuesday, 29 April 2025, the Church Hall of St Andrew’s Anglican Parish in West Nedlands welcomed a full audience for a richly engaging talk by Lucy Hair on the stories and legacy of Chinese cabinet makers in early twentieth-century Perth. In her talk, Lucy traced the story of Chinese-operated furniture workshops such as Washing Brothers, See Wah, and J W Wing—enterprises renowned for their skilled craftsmanship and enduring quality. A central focus of the talk was the life of Lee Fay, a talented cabinet maker whose poignant personal story reflects the broader experiences of Chinese workers navigating the opportunities and hardships of their time.

A special highlight of the event was the presence of descendants from the Washing family, who generously brought along pieces of handcrafted furniture to display. Their contributions offered a tangible connection to the past and were warmly received by attendees. After the presentation, Lucy was presented with flowers by Lenore Layman and Richard Offen from the Royal WA Historical Society, recognising her work in bringing these important stories to light.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Royal WA Historical Society for organising Lucy's talk and to all who joined us to honour this vital strand of WA’s multicultural heritage.

Full House for Our "Two Centuries" Talk at the National Archives of Australia

On Saturday, 5 April 2025, the National Archives of Australia (NAA) WA Office was filled to capacity as audience members gathered for a special talk by Lucy Hair and A/Prof Yu Tao, presented as part of the City of Perth’s Boorloo Heritage Festival.

Yu opened the session with an overview of the history of Chinese heritage in Western Australia and introduced the Two Centuries project, including the key features of our online portal. Drawing on a rich array of archival sources, Lucy then delved into the story of Café Canton, a historic Chinese restaurant on William Street, and explored how its founder, Felix Wong, and his family embody the resilience and determination of Chinese Australians in the face of adversity.

We are especially grateful to the National Archives of Australia—particularly Vesna Liso and Kellie Abbott—not only for kindly opening their doors on a weekend to host the event, but also for their ongoing support in helping us access and share the invaluable historical records held at the NAA. As a special highlight, the NAA team curated a display of original documents related to the Wong family and Café Canton, which drew great interest from attendees after the talk.

Our heartfelt thanks also go to the City of Perth, especially Susanna Iuliano, for inviting us to contribute to this year’s Boorloo Heritage Festival and for their generous support.

Paste and Place: Celebrating Northbridge's Diversity

On Wednesday, 2 April 2025, our team—Lucy Hair, Professor Benjamin Smith, and Associate Professor Yu Tao—was honoured to attend the opening ceremony of this vibrant new cultural initiative, held as part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival presented by the City of Perth.

We are delighted to have collaborated with a group of talented design students from North Metropolitan TAFE, whose creativity and dedication have brought to life a striking series of posters celebrating the rich multicultural history of Northbridge. These artworks draw on a wide range of historical materials curated by our team and present them in fresh, engaging ways for the people of Western Australia.

We extend our heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations to our colleagues at North Metropolitan TAFE—especially graphic designer and educator Rochelle Smith—for their tireless efforts in making this exhibition a success. We are also deeply grateful to the National Archives of Australia for generously providing many of the resources that informed this project.

It is a real privilege to see our research shared with the wider community in such a meaningful and accessible form.

Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in the City of Vincent: At the Local History Centre 

On Saturday, 15 March 2025, the City of Vincent Local History Centre in Leederville came alive with stories, memories, and shared reflections as community members gathered for Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in the City of Vincent.

Led by Associate Professor Yu Tao and Professor Benjamin Smith, the workshop introduced the project’s digital portal. It highlighted the depth and richness of Chinese heritage in the City of Vincent since the late 19th century. Participants explored historical maps and photographs and engaged with personal stories recorded on the digital portal.

The atmosphere was warm, curious, and proud. Many attendees shared how moving it was to see local Chinese heritage brought to life in such an engaging way. The interactive format invited storytelling and sparked connections across generations, underscoring the value of preserving community memory.

We sincerely thank Adam Bond, Local History Librarian at the City of Vincent, for kindly organising the event. As the project continues to grow, we look forward to offering more of these community events across cities and towns in Western Australia—fostering greater understanding, respect, and connection across our diverse communities.

Bridging History and Community: Project Team Engages with TAFE Students

On 10 February 2025, Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project team members Lucy Hair and Professor Benjamin Smith met with TAFE students to introduce them to the project’s online portal and discuss its significance in documenting and sharing the history and heritage of Chinese communities in Western Australia. The interactive session, attended by over 30 students, sparked thoughtful discussions and engagement, highlighting the students’ enthusiasm for exploring local heritage. 

A key focus of the session was the upcoming Boorloo Heritage Festival exhibition in Northbridge this April. Lucy and Ben worked closely with the students and community partners, including the Chung Wah Association and the City of Perth, to refine plans for the exhibition, ensuring a meaningful showcase of Northbridge’s rich multicultural history. This collaboration underscores the project’s strong commitment to community engagement and education, helping to bring WA’s Chinese heritage to life for broader audiences. 

Community Event 2: Podcast Launch

The Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia podcast series was officially launched on 5 December 2024 at a special lunchtime event at the University Club of Western Australia. This ground-breaking series brings to life the rich and often overlooked stories of early Chinese Western Australians, based on our team's original research. The launch event gathered researchers, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate this milestone. The first episode features the remarkable story of Moon Chow, the earliest documented Chinese Western Australian, shedding new light on the early presence and contributions of Chinese communities in the region.

Community Event 1: Online Portal Launch

In the evening of 7 August 2024, at the historic Chung Wah Hall, a landmark moment unfolded with the official launch of the "Two Hundred Years of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia" digital portal (www.ChineseWA.net). This ambitious initiative, co-led by A/Prof Yu Tao and Professor Benjamin Smith, marks a new era in the documentation and accessibility of Chinese heritage in Western Australia.

The portal was formally launched by Professor Amanda Davies, Head of the UWA School of Social Sciences, and Meena Johnson from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, in the presence of a distinguished gathering, including community elders and members, advisory board representatives, UWA leaders and faculty members, DFAT WA office representatives, and many other esteemed guests.

The evening was filled with deeply moving moments. Dr Anne Atkinson, whose pioneering archival work in the 1980s laid the foundation for this project, was visibly touched to see her decades of meticulous research come to life in a dynamic and accessible digital format. Renowned community historian Mrs Kaylene Poon acknowledged the project as a transformative milestone, taking the study of Chinese heritage in Western Australia to new heights. A particularly powerful moment was seeing community members discover their ancestors’ records within the portal, demonstrating the personal and historical significance of this initiative.

This digital archive is the result of years of dedicated research, collaboration, and unwavering community support. The project team extends its heartfelt gratitude to all participants and offers special thanks to Project Officer Lucy Hair for her quality coordination and organisation of this successful launch.