Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia
1830s - 2020s
1830s - 2020s
Discover, record, and tell stories of two centuries of Chinese communities’ contributions to our State and Commonwealth
Media Engagement
We actively engage with the media to share insights from our research and highlight the rich history of Chinese heritage in Western Australia. Our team collaborates with journalists, participates in interviews, and contributes to articles, podcasts, and documentaries to ensure these important stories reach a broad audience.
We welcome media inquiries and opportunities for collaboration—please contact us for expert commentary, research insights, or to discuss potential features.
Q2 2025
On 3 April 2025, Lucy Hair discussed the history of Chinese restaurants in Perth and Café Canton on ABC Perth Breakfast with Mark Gibson. [🎧 Please click here to listen to the segment.]
Q1 2025
On 8 February 2025, The Fremantle Herald and its sister papers -- Perth Voice, Melville Herald, and Cockburn Herald -- all featured the stories of Chew Lun, a Chinese market gardener in late 19th-century WA. The article, based on research from the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project, highlights this early Chinese market gardener’s resilience, legal troubles, and the enduring legacy of Chinese market gardeners in WA. [📰 Please click here to read the article.]
In February 2025, The Chinese Australian Historical Society featured our podcast series in their official newsletter. [📜 Please click here to read the article.]
On 29 January 2025, in celebration of the upcoming Year of the Snake, The University of Western Australia’s official LinkedIn page published an article showcasing three key research highlights from the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project. The article highlights our project’s ongoing efforts to uncover, digitise, and share the rich and often overlooked history of Chinese communities in WA. [📃 Please click here to read the article.]
On 11 January 2025, The Fremantle Herald and its sister papers -- Perth Voice, Melville Herald, and Cockburn Herald -- all published a feature on the remarkable story of Hee Kee, a Chinese draper in late 19th-century Fremantle, whose struggles against discriminatory immigration laws and efforts to build a thriving business encapsulate the resilience of early Chinese migrants in WA. The article, based on research from the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project, sheds light on Hee Kee’s legal battles, his store’s rise and fall, and his later contributions to the Perth Chinese Relief Committee. [📰 Please click here to read the article.]
On 11 January 2025, The Fremantle Herald published a story based on an interview with Lucy Hair, highlighting the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project. The article explores the project’s efforts to uncover and preserve the rich yet often overlooked history of Chinese people in WA, featuring insights into early Chinese migration, government restrictions, and the resilience of the community. [📰 Please click here to read the article.]
In January 2025, The Chinese Australian Historical Society featured the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project in their official newsletter, highlighting our efforts to preserve and share the rich history of Chinese communities in WA. [📜 Please click here to read the article.]
2024
In December 2024, Uniview—The magazine of The University of Western Australia—featured the ground-breaking work of Benjamin Smith and the Digitisation Centre of WA in digitising Chinese heritage and other precious materials in Western Australia. [📜Please click here to read the article.]
On 30 November 2024, The Perth Voice published a story based on an interview with Lucy Hair, introducing the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia project. [📰 Please click here to read the article.]
On 12 November 2024, Lucy Hair discussed the history and local impacts of Chinese migration in Western Australia on ABC Perth Breakfast with Mark Gibson. [🎧 Please click here to listen to the segment.]
2023
On 4 May 2023, Yu Tao contributed to a SBS Mandarin 中文普通话 story about the life and legacy of Moon Chow, the first documented Chinese Western Australian.
On 23 April 2023, Yu Tao contributed to a ABC Radio Perth story about Moon Chow, the first documented Chinese Western Australian.
2022
On 6 October 2022, Benjamin Smith contributed to a Fremantle Herald story about a photo that might depict Moon Chow, the first documented Chinese resident in WA, who played a significant role in building some of Perth's oldest structures.