The Chinese in New South Wales and Victoria, 1901-1921, with special reference to Sydney and Melbourne

Abstract

This study is primarily concerned with the Chinese communities in New South Wales and Victoria generally and in Sydney and Melbourne particularly during the first two decades of the present century. It is a story of the largest Asian minority group living among the white majority group. It is told against an Australian background of popular nationalistic feeling for a White Australia and a Chinese background of turmoil, disintegration and revolution. The thesis analyses the changes in the Chinese communities in New South Wales and Victoria over a period of 20 years and explores their relations with both Australia and China. The thesis examines the economic« political and social life of the Chinese communities. It is divided into four parts. Part I deals with the Chinese response to the immigration laws. Part II studies economic life and investigates the division of social classes between merchants and labourers; "Chinese competition" in various fields is examined; and there is an analysis of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and of the Chinese shipping line which began in 1917 and collapsed in 1924, Part III examines the rise of Chinese nationalism in Australia which eventually emerged in the form of two political movements: a reform movement dominating the political scene in the first decade« and a republican and nationalist movement fermenting in the second. Part 111 also includes a discussion of the Chinese secret society, the Yee Hing, or Chinese Masonic Society, which played a significant part in politics among the Chinese in Australia before and after the 1911 Chinese

Revolution. Part IV sets out to investigate social life, including family life and morality, county societies» religion fluid education« Hie examination reveals a decline of the Chinese communities in aspects such as population growth» functions of county societies and the role of joss-houses. But by contrast» there were more healthy signs of growth and activity in the economic and political arena during the second decade than the first« The main question explored in the thesis is: why did the Chinese communities in New bouth ^ales and Victoria» in the years 1901-1921, thrive in the Australian environment where their position as a minority was vulnerable? The answer lie s in the following factors: improved organisation, more intensive communication, more effective leadership and better accommodation to the Australian environment.