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Chinese pageant and speech at the opening of the Maryborough and Avoca Railway in 1876

In 1876, when the Maryborough and Avoca Railway was opened by Sir George Bowen, the Governor of Victoria, Chinese residents were present at the ceremony and the festivities that followed.

The  Illustrated Australian News of 29 November 1876 reported the Chinese participation and published some sketches:

The Chinese, of whom a considerable number reside in the district, mustered in great force, and joined in the procession of the inhabitants to and from the station. Many of them were arrayed in their native costume, which it is needless to say was of the fearful and wonderful character, and quite sufficient to make the juvenile population look on in awe. … A platform was erected at some short distance from the station, and to this his Excellency the Governor and the members of the Government attending were conducted. Some thousands of persons were assembled, having arrived shortly before in procession, in which the Chinese inhabitants and the children attending the schools in the district formed a considerable part ….
The Chinese subsequently presented a loyal address, to which his Excellency replied in suitable terms.
Reception of the Governor and Chinese procession
Stampede of the Chinamen under a shower

A fuller report appeared in the Avoca Mail on 24 October 1876.

… The Chinese also must not be forgotten, on account of the excellent manner in which they showed their loyalty to the Queen's representative and their sense of the importance of the event. The good spirit thus shown will no doubt greatly tend to still further improve the friendly relations existing between the Europeans and Chinese in this colony.
…
About half-past one o'clock the Chinese pageant made its appearance in the town, coming from the direction of the Avoca Load where the preparations had been made during the morning. This was, without doubt, the chief feature of the procession— not even excepting the grand display made by the children. To minutely describe every portion of the show would be impossible without explanations from the Chinese themselves of the various mysterious emblems, banners, and properties, which were carried. As usual on such occasions a sample of the Chinese music was given, and it scarcely accorded with European ideas of melody and harmony, it was evident at least that good time was kept by the players, and that they played together with a precision that could only come from long practice. The dresses were of the grandest, being mostly composed of silk richly embroidered and worked, and we presume that several of the costumes may be taken to be robes usually worn by the mandarins and other high officials of China. In addition to these were specimens of celestial warriors with their weapons, and fierce fellows they looked, although probably the loose drapery worn would be found somewhat in the road in a hot hand-to-band encounter. One of the most instructive features of the pageant was that in which the weapons were shown. There were two warriors with large shields and short broad-swords, something after the fashion of those with which the ancient Greek heroes are represented. Then there were sword-like instruments attached to long staves, suggestive of "chopping;" others mounted in the same way much like our own sword bayonets ; a peculiar kind of spike with a cork-screw blade, which would give an ugly wound, and a three-pronged pitch-fork looking weapon which would be awkward to evade, and would be sure to " spit" the enemy without being particularly well directed. Altogether the display was a most creditable one, and shows that the Chinese had gone to considerable expense and trouble to do honor to the vice-regal visit. We hear that the cost for the hire of dresses and weapons was not less than £130, and nearly all of this large sum was raised by voluntary contributions of the Chinese in this district, and this, also, at a time when we are sorry to say this industrious people are not so prosperous in the way of gold- winning as formerly. They have shown by this demonstration their loyalty and good feeling, in an unmistakable manner ; and we are sure that they will be pleased to know through their head men and interpreters that their efforts and liberality on this occasion were well understood and appreciated. The railway authorities liberally allowed the Chinese and their paraphernalia free transit, and His Excellency specially authorised the Shire Secretary to convey His Excellency's appreciation and interest in the Chinese procession.
…
The Chinese procession having approached, Mr Loo Chin, of Percydale, presented an address on behalf of Chinese residents, of which the following is a translation " To His Excellency Sir George Bowen, Governor of the Colony of Victoria.— Most honourable Governor.— We, the Chinese residents of the Avoca district, welcome the representative of the most illustrious Queen Victoria.What the good father is to the family, the good Governor is to the people. We are told, Oh honourable Governor, that you are a just and good ruler. We thankfully acknowledge the freedom from oppression that we enjoy under your rule. Religions are many ; reason is one ; men are all brothers. So taught our great Chinese Governor Confucius— (Kong-fu tse); and that every man should govern himself and his family according to the sacred maxims, and should render to the Emperor, as the father of his people, that filial obedience which preserves domestic peace, social order, and national safety. Hence on this day of rejoicing we humbly lay our most respectful obedience at your feet, as the worthy representative of your great Queen, and of the law, order, and justice which native-born subjects and foreign aliens alike receive throughout her vast dominions. Finally, Oh worthy Governor, our earnest desire is that you may be happy on earth, and that when you exist no more you may ascend to the sky."
Sir George Bowen replied,—" I receive with satisfaction this loyal address from the Chinese residents of this district, who I am informed show a praiseworthy desire to obey the laws and to live in harmony with their neighbours of European descent. It is a remarkable fact that the Queen of England and the Emperor of China now reign over more than 600,000,000 of people, i e, over about half of the entire human race. I would direct the attention of the Chinese in the country districts of Victoria to the advantage of extending still more their cultivation of vegetable gardens, for which their habits of patient industry seem especially to fit them, and in which pursuit they can contribute largely to the comfort and convenience of the entire community. The rapid extension of railway communication will render it more easy to send all garden produce to any profitable market in the chief towns. Once more I thank you for this address, and I wish you all prosperity."
Three cheers were then given for the Governor and the Avoca railway, after which the Chinese procession marched past at the request of His Excellency, and the children sang the National Anthem accompanied by Neihoff's Band.

In that year,1876, there were some 600 Chinese miners reported on the Avoca goldfields, well down from the 2,000 reported in the Avoca district from 1867 to 1871.

The Opening was a well-managed civic occasion. Its success seems to demonstrate the existence of a considerable reservoir of goodwill between the Chinese and European participants.

Relared post:

Chinese miners on the Avoca goldfields

In the nineteenth century a great many diggers on the Victorian goldfields were Chinese.

Statistics about the numbers and distribution of these Chinese are available for 1857 to 1883 through the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV).

As usual with demographic data of this kind, it is impossible to
obtain entirely reliable exact figures. The numbers used below should
be regarded as estimates, showing trends.

In 1857 there were about 6,850 miners on the Avoca goldfields of whom about 3,000, just over 40%, were Chinese. 

In 1860 there was a rush to Lamplough. It was estimated that there were 18,075 European miners on the Avoca gold fields, nearly one in five of all miners in the Colony of Victoria. (The 1860 figure for European miners is not shown. This graph would not fit on this page.)

From 1869 to 1879 Chinese miners outnumbered European miners on the Avoca goldfields.

In 1871 there were estimated to be 2,398 Chinese miners in the Avoca division and 1,066 European miners, 75 % of the miners in Avoca that year were Chinese.

Over the years the number of Chinese miners declined until, in 1883,there were only 150 Chinese miners left in the Avoca district.

The number of Chinese miners in the Colony of Victoria was highest in 1857, when it was estimated there were 36,237. This number declined to just over 6,000 in 1883.

The following commentary was provided in  Mineral statistics of Victoria for the year 1864:

The Chinese miners still follow their old system of mining, and they confine their operations, mostly, to ground which has been abandoned by the Europeans. They are alluvial miners; and, though very industrious, they are not enterprising. The numbers do not decrease much. In 1859 there were 25,173 Chinese miners, and in 1864 there were 21,597. There are only eight of them engaged in quartz mining.

For 1867 it was reported:

The total number of Chinese miners in the colony on the 31st of December, 1866, was 20,134 ; the year previous there were 20,933, or a greater number by 800 than in 1865. The report speaks of the great difficulty experienced in enumerating this people. It must be acknowledged that although industrious, they are not enterprising, but generally follow the movements of Europeans. The decrease in their numbers in 1866 may be attributed to the numerous departures for New Zealand, where the Mongolian race is speedily forming a portion of the population.

In the report for 1871 it was noted:

The number of Chinese miners employed on the goldfields in 1871 was 15,669 -more by 590 than those employed in 1870.

There was a smaller number employed in the districts of Ballarat, Beechworth, Sandhurst, Ararat, and Gippsland; but a greater number in the Maryborough and Castlemaine districts. There was, however, no very great change in any district.

The Chinese miners continue to labor very assiduously in all parts of the colony, in workings abandoned by the Europeans; but very few of them have attempted quartz mining. Not more than 87 are put down as quartz miners.

(Avoca was part of the Maryborough mining district.)

In the report for 1874 it was observed that as European men sought and found employment in other areas of the economy there was a decline in the number of miners employed :

In 1866 the mean number of miners employed on the goldfields was 73,577; so that while there has been an increase of 33,523 during the past nine years in the number of persons engaged in farming, manufactories, &c., there has been a decrease of 27,065 in the number of gold miners.

These figures, it appears to me, deserve attention.

The number of Chinese miners is diminishing. [15,079 in 1870 to 12,180 in 1874]

During the year 1874 there were 12,056 Chinese miners employed in alluvial mining, and 124 in quartz mining. The Chinese miners do not readily embrace labors involving the employment of elaborate machinery. They confine themselves, as a rule, to the extraction of gold from the shallow alluviums, where their industry, untiring perseverance, and thrift, enable them to derive sure if but small profits.

In the report for 1876 it was noted that the number of Chinese miners had declined. Unlike the Europeans, the Chinese did not find employment in other areas of the economy.

The number of alluvial miners is still decreasing. The number now employed is about 10,000 less than in the year 1872; since the same year the number of miners employed in quartz mining has also diminished by over 2,000, but the decrease in both classes of mining in 1876, as compared with 1875; is only 707

In 1872 there were 14,158 Chinese engaged in mining pursuits; whilst in 1876 there were but 11,167. The Chinese miners have décreased in number annually since the year 1861, when they amounted to 24,544. Although the Chinese miners do nót in this colony become absorbed in other industrial pursuits like the European miners, it is a remarkable coincidence that their decrease in number is almost exactly in the same relative proportion.

In 1882 the decline in numbers of miners was reported with most of the decrease being attributed to the reduced numbers of Chinese miners.

The number of Chinese engaged in mining operations in Victoria continues to decrease. On the 31st December 1882 the number was 7,274, or 667 less than the number employed at the same date in 1881.

The decrease in the number of miners in the past year is caused by the gradual exhaustion of some of the older workings of the goldfields; but the withdrawal of Chinese alone accounts for most of the decrease in the mean nümber of miners employed.

From 1857 to 1883 the miners on the Avoca goldfields represented 2% to 5% of the miners in the Colony of Victoria. In 1860 however, a rush to Lamplough near Avoca brought many European miners. Over 18,000 miners—21% of European miners in the Colony—were there for this rush.

In 1868 to 1874 the Chinese on the Avoca gold fields were at least 10% of all Chinese miners in the Colony.

In the years 1857 to 1883 Chinese miners were 45% of the miners in the Avoca district.  From 1869 to 1879 there were more Chinese miners than Europeans in Avoca. 75% of the miners there in 1869 were Chinese.

For the period 1857 to 1883 25% of miners in the Colony of Victoria were Chinese, with the proportion of Chinese miners on the Avoca goldfields higher than the average in Victoria.

A line of Chinese walking with their bundles and belongings, a group in foreground seated and standing beside a waterhole, a bullock dray on ridge in background.
“Chinese on their way to the diggings” drawing by Charles Lyall about 1854
State Library of Victoria Accession No : H87.63/2/4

See also

In 1867 the interpreter Howqua provided figures for the Chinese community living in Avoca (1867 survey of Chinese in Avoca). He estimated the population at 250. In the Mineral statistics of Victoria for the year 1874 the population was estimated at 373 Chinese miners. The difference is probably due to when the counts were taken. Two years later the number of Chinese miners at Avoca was estimated at 2,274, an enormous increase.

Ah Yen, sojourner

In the forty years between 1850 and 1890 62,990 Chinese are recorded as having entered Victoria by land or sea (the land route from Robe in South Australia.). Sixty percent of these—48,000—later left the Colony, most returning to the Canton (Guangzhou) area from whence they’d come, a hundred miles or so up the Pearl River from Hong Kong.

One of those who went back to China was Ah Yen, an Avoca vegetable hawker and gardener. The Avoca Mail noted his departure in 1882:

Avoca Mail, Tuesday 5 September 1882, page 2

Local housewives will, for some months to come, miss the daily attentions of one who has for some years passed supplied their requirements in the shape of vegetables. Ah Yen, the very civil and obliging vegetable hawker and gardener, having by his industry accumulated a modest competency, has determined to visit his native land, and accordingly started for China yesterday, intending to be absent for twelve months, and we are sure that his customers will wish him a pleasant voyage, and an enjoyable holiday. Ah Yen is still a young man, and it is rumoured that he is going home for a wife — perhaps a couple of wives — and if necessary he can obtain such testimonials from the Avoca housekeepers as will secure ample favor for him in the eyes of the fair daughters of the Flowery Land. While absent his garden will be managed and his business conducted by a relative recently arrived from China.

I do not know how long Ah Yen lived in Avoca, nor anything about his replacement.

I doubt whether he ever came back. Few Chinese made a second trip to Victoria.

During the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s and 1860s, the word “sojourner”, from the Latin ‘to spend a day’, referred to a Chinese who came to Australia temporarily to earn money for his family back home. ‘Sojourner’ is roughly equivalent to our ‘resident alien’.

a Chinese hawker
Print – ‘The Chinese Hawker’, c.1873
Courtesy of the Chinese Museum Retrieved through Victorian Collections

See also:

1860s, Chinese travelling by stage coach

Stage Coach Laden with Luggage and Many Chinese People
Stage Coach Laden with Luggage and Many Chinese People En Route to the Gold Fields
In the collection of the State Library of Victoria Accession No : H35244 (accessioned about 1900)

This photograph, often reproduced, appears to be of Chinese miners on their way to the diggings at Fiddlers Creek, also known as Percydale, near Avoca, Victoria. It is said to have been taken at Newstead, near Castlemaine.

The style of the coach suggests that the photograph is from the 1860s.

Cobb and Co. coaches from about 1863 set off from Castlemaine when the Melbourne train arrived. They went through Newstead, Carisbrook, Maryborough, Avoca, Percydale, Moonambel, Barkly, Red Bank, Landsborough, Amphitheatre, Eversley, Ararat, Pleasant Creek (Stawell).

The Melbourne curator and  historian Sophie Couchman has written about the photograph and its various interpretations.

coach advertisement
Advertising (1869, November 20). The Avoca Mail, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article252153859
Percydale in February 2026
Post 5 indicates the former coach stop.
In the 1860s Percydale had two butchers, a hay and grain store, two hotels, a blacksmith, a dress shop, three banks, two grocers and a Chinese shop. Two churches, Cobb & Co. coach and horse yard, a post office and a police station next to the Temperance Hall. The Chinese population lived south of Fiddler’s Creek, tended market gardens and mined there for gold.

See also

Chinese coins found at Percydale

These coins belong to a member of the Avoca and District Historical Society, who has a small collection of Chinese coins found by her father more than 60 years ago at the Percydale diggings, ten kilometres or so northwest of Avoca.

Four coins found at the Percydale diggings, obverse (‘heads’, with Chinese) and reverse (‘tails’, with Manchu script).

The coin on the upper left is the most legible.

Turn the image 45 degrees anti-clockwise. In the three o’clock position you will see the word 通 ‘tong’, which means ‘circulating’. In the nine o’clock position is 寶 ‘bao’, treasure. Reading these two words from right to left you have the word 通寶 ‘tong bao’, which means ‘currency’. 

The characters at twelve o’clock and six o’clock give the date of the coin, not as a number AD, of course, but by the name of the reign period when the coin was minted. The ‘reign period’ was the name of the imperial era, a bit like ‘Georgian, at the time of George II’. This coin is from the Qing dynasty Kangxi 康熙 period (r. 1661–1722). It was a widely-circulated coin of low value.

The third coin in the grid is another example of this coin.

The second coin down dates from thereign of Qianlong 乾隆 (r. 1735–1796).

They are probably brass (copper and zinc) or copper and lead. Their value was one 文 ‘wen’, a thousandth of a 圓 ‘yuan’ (a dollar, in modern terms). The collective term is ‘cash’.

By convention the Manchu mint marks are taken to have been stamped on the reverse (tails) side. The Chinese characters are on the obverse (heads) side.

The coins have Manchu mint marks. In 1657 bronze cash coins were introduced with Manchu script on the reverse side. Many coins have the Manchu word ᠪᠣᠣ (Boo) on the left. To the right there is often the name of the coin’s issuing agency. This coin appears to have been issued by the mint attached to the Board of Revenue at Beijing.

Similar coins were found at Wagga Wagga; they were possibly used as gambling tokens.

Further reading

Wikipedia:

Tending to graves in Avoca

As everyone knows, the Chinese celebrate New Year not on 1 January but on the first day of the lunar New Year. This year Chinese New Year’s Day was 17 February, last Tuesday.

Another important festival in the Chinese calendar is Qīngmíngjié (清明节), Tomb Sweeping Day, a week or two after the Spring Equinox. On Qīngmíngjié in China and among Chinese communities around the world people remember and honor their ancestors by sweeping and tidying ancestral tombs and getting together to eat traditional food and celebrating with friends and relations.

Avoca Mail, Tuesday 6 April 1875, page 2

Some curiosity was excited in Avoca on Sunday morning last by a procession of buggies to the number of six or seven, most of them double seated, and all of them heavily laden with Chinamen, which went down High street in the direction of the cemetery, and shortly afterwards returned in the same order. It appears that Sunday was the day set apart in the Chinese year for the annual visitation to the graves of departed celestials by their surviving country men, and certain ceremonies only known to the pagan mind have to be gone through including the offering: of provisions in the shape of food and drink, but whether to propitiate " Joss," or, as a current belief is, to refresh the carnality which is supposed to exist after death, we are unable to say. We can only know from observation that whatever was done, this curious and decidedly intelligent people were in earnest about it. Most of the Chinamen came from as far as Majorca.

The distance  from Avoca to Majorca is 35 km (22 miles). 

‘Chinese Rites at the Graves of Their Countrymen’
(1872, September 10). Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic.), p. 196.

In 1879 the celebrations in early April resulted in a fire at the Avoca cemetery.

Avoca Mail, Tuesday 8 April 1879, page 2

The practice adopted by Chinamen of performing religious rites and ceremonies over the graves of their dead countrymen nearly caused some damage in the Avoca cemetery on Saturday. The Chinamen had come prepared with a good supply of food and drink to sustain the souls of the dear departed, and in the course of the ceremonies had lighted a fire, candles, &c. Probably owing to the high wind the grass caught .fire and spread away rapidly in the direction of the quarters occupied by the Europeans' graves, and it seemed likely that the whole cemetery would be over-run with the fire, in which case much damage would have been done to tombstones, railings, and plants. Fortunately, however, Mr Buhlert and others, with two of the police, saw the smoke and by their exertions the fire was at last extinguished. Most of the Chinamen present at once made off without trying to put out the fire, but one of them, Ah Cow, showed a better spirit and worked manfully in assisting the Europeans. This man afterwards obtained his reward by being arrested on the charge of having lighted the fire, while his less active but equally guilty countrymen made good their escape. After remaining in the lock-up till Monday morning Ah Cow was fined £1 and 10s 6d costs, the amount being subscribed by his friends in the court. The presiding magistrate stated that he had power to fine the accused £100 for the offence, but the trustees did not press for a heavy penalty, and Constable Shanklin, who prosecuted, spoke favorably of the prisoner's exertions to subdue the fire. The Chinamen present in the court, through their interpreter, promised to be more careful in the use of fire for the future.

The following year a funerary oven was built. This is a small red brick structure with an oven opening in one side with a semi-circular head. The top three courses of brickwork are corbelled with the centre course being laid on the diagonal to give a decorative chevron appearance. The curved pyramidal shaped metal roof is capped at the apex with a ball decoration.

A brick oven, used in Chinese funerals, at the cemetery in Avoca, Victoria, Australia.
A brick oven, used in Chinese funerals, at the cemetery in Avoca, Victoria, Australia. (photographed 2010)
Uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by user Peterdownunder CC-BY-SA-3.0

Avoca Mail, Tuesday 27 April 1880, page 2

OPEN COLUMN.
To the Editor of the Avoca Mail.
Sir, — I observe in the last issue of your contemporary an article dealing with what is termed " The Chinese difficulty in a new shape," the said difficulty being apparently a " joss-stick oven" recently erected in our cemetery. I quite agree with the writer that the " horrid red brick abomination" is no ornament to the burial ground, according to outer barbarian notions, but it must not be forgotten that it was chiefly built for utility, and by the express orders of the local magistrate to prevent the ignition of the grass at the Chinese burial ceremonies. The Chinese deserve credit for having obeyed the instructions of the court, and it appears to me that they have taken some trouble to make their " joss-stick oven" as ornamental as their ideas of the beautiful in art would permit them to do. If anyone doubts this let them inspect the structure. It will then be seen that the brick-work has been raised something after the fashion of a pedestal, and perhaps from designs supplied by some of the monuments existing in the cemetery. Then the roof has evidently been a subject of much study, and when the architect finally adopted the plan of the familiar pagodas of his native land he no doubt thought the barbarians would be lost in admiration of its gracefulness, and straightway " take a wrinkle" from it for use in their own buildings. But this was not enough. The brick work had to be further improved with a coat of red coloring, the joints were pricked out with white, and finally the roof was painted with graceful curves, which have placed Hogarth's " line of beauty" altogether in the shade. Now, sir, although the effect may not be all we barbarians desire, some allowance should be made for the evident intention to please, and it may be suggested that if it does not please us the builders should have been favored with our ideas on the subject before the structure was commenced. There is another aspect of the question, however, which is deserving of consideration. The Chinese have had a portion of the cemetery devoted to their use, and they may fancy that they have some sort of proprietorship in it, and some right to do as they please there while they hurt no one else. They do not trespass on the European part of the cemetery, and Europeans have no business to go into their part. If the writer for your contemporary will remember this and act upon it he will be able to keep his fingers out of the pork fat which he so much dislikes. It strikes me that we Britishers have a good many cemeteries in China and other foreign countries, and we have a way of doing as we like in them ; let us then afford John Chinaman the same privilege, and while he takes due precautions against fire and keeps his pagodas and pork fat on the ground set apart for him he should not be interfered with.
I am, &c.,
Q.Z.

(Presumably the earlier article was in the Avoca Free Press which has not yet been digitised.)

Nearly 150 years later the red brick funerary burning tower still stands in the cemetery.

cemetery
Chinese section in Avoca cemetery February 2026

Related posts

Chinese New Year at Avoca Lead 1865

Kung hei fat choi! 恭喜發財! Happy new year!

As we enter the Year of the Horse in 2026, here’s a look back at how the Chinese community in Avoca Lead celebrated New Year in 1865 – one hundred and sixty one years ago.

Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 18 February 1865, page 17

AVOCA.

Chinese Hospitality.— Our local correspondent writes :— ‘ The inhabitants of the Avoca Lead were, on the 5th inst., regaled with a most sumptuous dinner, given by Messrs Ah See and Ah Sing, Chinese storekeepers, of this district, the day being the last of the anniversary of the Chinese New Year. About forty Europeans and upwards of one hundred Chinese partook of a monster dinner, consisting of turkey, fowl, pork, &c., &c, with bottled porter, spirits and wine ad libitum. Upwards of £8 worth of crackers were let off on the occasion. Our hosts received the well- wishes of the company, and seemed highly pleased on being cheered by their European guests. The whole proceeding passed off in a most orderly manner.

“A CHINESE NEW YEAR’S DAY.” (1899, February 18). Evening News (Sydney, NSW), p. 1 (EVENING NEWS SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113700205

The 1865 Chinese zodiac is the Ox, covering the lunar period from January 27, 1865, to February 12, 1866.

The murder of Ga Poo by Ah Lop September 1857

When a Chinese miner killed a Chinese miner on the goldfields European justice was brought to bear. Clemency followed.

It started on 25 September 1857 at Donkey Woman’s Gully, near Avoca. A miner of doubtful sanity called Ah Lup attacked and killed his tent-mate, Ga Poo. An inquest was followed by a trial at Castlemaine and Ah Lop was found guilty.

The jury recommended mercy on the ground of Ah Lop’s insanity and the death sentence that had been imposed was commuted to imprisonment for life.

Ah Lop was held in various prisons until 1874, when he was transferred to the Metropolitan Lunatic Asylum. He died in there on 29 October 1914, aged seventy-nine.

Shows a court room with judge or magistrate seated with scribe beside him, policemen, jury in foreground, lawyers at table in front of judge, a man standing in box facing judge with policeman beside him, Chinese man standing in box on left of judge.
Courtroom scene by Charles Lyall (about 1954).
A court room with judge or magistrate seated with scribe beside him, policemen, jury in foreground, lawyers at table in front of judge, a man standing in box facing judge with policeman beside him, Chinese man standing in box on left of judge.
State Library of Victoria Accession No : H87.63/2/7B

Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic.), 10 October 1857, page 2

SHOCKING MURDER. - Another shocking murder has been committed by a Chinaman, on a Chinaman. On the 25th ult., a Chinese digger named Kinn How Qua [actually Hok Soon], on the Avoca, was awakened by noise of a scuffle, in a neighboring tent. Upon proceeding to the tent, he saw a man named A Lup, striking his mate, Ga Poo, (who was lying in bed) three blows on the head with a pick. He obtained assistance, and secured A Lup. Ga Poo was dead, his head being covered with wounds. A coroner's inquest has resulted in a verdict of wilful murder against the assassin.

Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser (, Vic.), Thu 6 Oct 1857, Page 2

HORRIBLE MURDER AT AVOCA.

The following appears in the Maryborough Advertiser: — An inquest was held yesterday, at Harrison's Store, Donkey Woman's Gully, Avoca, before F. M. Laidman, Esq., coroner, and the following jury : — Henry Millgate (foreman), Charles Farnsworth, David Bohan, John Bridgewater, Alfred Partridge, John Grant, Joseph Barnett, James Solley, James Starling, William Boyd, Henry Moss, and William Pete, on view of the body of Ga Poo, a Chinaman, who was barbarously murdered by one of his own countrymen. After being sworn in, the jury and coroner proceeded to view the body, which lay in a small tent about one hundred yards from the Store, and which presented a frightful appearance, the head being literally stove in, apparently from blows of a pick, or some instrument of this description. The principal wounds were in the face, and around them were huge masses of vermin, which gave to the corpse a most disgusting appearance. After viewing the body, the jury proceeded to the Locomotive Inn, Avoca, when the inquest was resumed, and the following witnesses examined : — 

A Kinn How Qua, having been duly sworn as interpreter, the witnesses were examined through his medium. 

Hok Soon having been sworn by blowing out a match, deposed : I am a Chinaman, and a digger, living at Donkey Woman's Gully, Avoca ; I lived next tent to deceased ; on last Friday week, the 25th ult., about nine o'clock at night, I was in bed, but heard a noise and got up; it was people quarrelling ; I went to the next tent and saw a pick in the hands of A Lup ; it was the same pick now produced ; he held it in both hands; he struck the deceased Ga Poo, who was lying in bed, two or three times ; he struck him about the head, close to the nose ; I saw him strike three blows ; I sung out for his friend, Sing Soon, to come in ; when he came up we both went in ; deceased could not move ; he was insensible ; we caught hold of prisoner took the pick from him, and tied him up ; we then sent for the police and gave him into custody ; I saw prisoner and deceased together on the Thursday ; the noise that I heard at the time awoke me; I heard three blows before I went into the tent ; I did not hear any cry out ; the man I see before me is the person who struck the blows ; on catching the prisoner I struck him with my hand, but he said nothing. 

To the Foreman : The prisoner was perfectly sober. 

To the Coroner : I do not know whether they had a quarrel before ; prisoner and deceased had been working together. 

To Mr Langley ; It was better than half an hour after I heard the quarrel that the blows were struck. 

Sing Soon deposed : I am a digger at Avoca : I remember the evening of Friday week, the day on which the quarrel was ; I was in my own tent about nine o'clock that evening ; deceased's tent was about 100 feet from mine ; I did not hear any noise. 

This witness did his best to fence the questions, and it was almost impossible to elicit anything from him. The Coroner desired the Interpreter to tell him that if he did not answer he would be punished himself. The interpreter then explained that he was a cousin of the prisoner's. The prisoner also endeavored to address some observations in Chinese to the witness, and was with difficulty prevented.

The examination resumed : I do not know what I was doing that night. Hok Soon sent for me to go into Ga Poo's tent. I went in and saw prisoner with a pick in his hand. I did not see him strike with it. I helped to tie him up. Deceased was lying in bed. He was hurt, and there was blood on the pick. He was bleeding from the forehead. There was a candle lighted in the tent. I stood beside the prisoner while Hok Soon went for the police. The pick now produced is the one I saw in A Lup's hand. Neither prisoner nor deceased spoke to me. The latter was insensible. They used to work together. 

To the Coroner : Prisoner did not speak to me while the other man was away for the police. The prisoner is the man who had the pick in his hand when I went into the tent. I know nothing more about the quarrel. 

Dr Morris deposed : I am a legally qualified medical practitioner, aud reside at Avoca. On Friday week, the 25th ult., about ten o'clock at night, I was called on by the Chinese Interpreter to see the deceased. I found the face suffused with blood from various wounds, not less than five. There was an extensive fracture of the skull in two places. One fracture was at the corner of the eye, which fracture appeared to have perforated the membranes and substance of the brain. The other was close to the ear ; this was also a compound comminuted fracture. The bone was considerably smashed. The other organs were healthy. I believe the blow was struck with such force that the implement itself penetrated, leaving the bones on each side. The fractures were so extensive that it would be difficult to say what was not fractured. One eye was completely destroyed. I could not say that the instrument was exactly a blunt one ; but it was not a knife. The pick produced would be likely to cause such wounds, and I believe I saw it at the place on the same evening covered with blood. Great force must have been used. I have made a post mortem examination in conjunction with Dr. McMahon, and found the wounds described before. No constitution could have recovered such injuries, and I do not believe a full-blooded Englishman would have lived half so long. The internal organs were health. I have no hesitation in saying that the wounds were the cause of death. 

Constable Hicks deposed : I am stationed at Avoca. On Friday night, about ten o'clock at night, in accordance with instructions received, I went to the Chinese Camp, at Donkey Woman's Gully. The information was that one Chinaman had murdered another. I was sent on by the sergeant, and on my arrival found the deceased lying on a stretcher, apparently dead ; his head was so covered with blood, that I could not tell whether it was a man's head or not. The prisoner was lying outside, bound hand and foot to a log. He was bound with cords. No one there could speak English, but one intimated "Man sick inside." I took the prisoner into custody. The pick now produced was given me by Sing Soon. It was given me on asking for the weapon that caused the injuries to the deceased man. I searched the prisoner, but found nothing upon him. He is the man I arrested that night. He has been in custody ever since. 

The coroner briefly summed up, and the jury, after retiring for about five minutes, returned a verdict — "That A Lup did cruelly and wilfully murder Ga Poo, with the pick produced, according to the evidence." 

The prisoner, on being asked what he had to say, said that Ga Poo had played a good many tricks with him. He tried to make him mad. He had been working with him before, and deceased often talked about trying to kill him. Prisoner had a brother, who went to Ararat about a fortnight since, and somebody told him his brother was murdered. Ga Poo, some time ago, threatened to kill both himself and his brother. Prisoner came to the colony in May last, and it was about two or three months since deceased threatened to kill him and his brother. The dispute was about money. 

Prisoner, who bore the examination with the most stoical indifference, was then fully committed for trial at the Castlemaine Sessions, to be held on the 28th October next.

Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Tuesday 3 November 1857, page 5

CASTLEMAINE CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
Friday, 30th October, 1857.
(Before his Honor Mr. Justice Williams.)
Mr. Aspinall acted as Crown Prosecutor.
...
MURDER.
A youthful but repulsive-looking Chinaman was indicted for killing one of his countrymen. Through an interpreter he pleaded not guilty. There being only one interpreter, his Honor refused to proceed with the trial, saying he never would try such cases unless the evidence given in a foreign language was subjected to the test furnished by two interpreters. He said the Chinese Protector ought to be present, and he would adjourn the case.--
Miner's Right.

During the trial a miner called Sing Chong testified: ” he is brother to prisoner, who was often cranky in China, and had been so five or six times since he came to the colony. When cranky, he did not wash his face, and made a mess in the tent. Once in China he chased people with a knife. On the night of Gah Poo’s death he had not washed his face for two days. “

Mount Ararat Advertiser and Chronicle for the District of the Wimmera (Vic.), Friday 6 November 1857, page 2

Castlemaine Criminal Sessions, October 30.
Before his Honor Mr. Justice Williams, Mr. Aspinall acting as Crown prosecutor.
...
MURDER. 

A-Lop was again arrainged on the charge of murder. A-Ki was sworn as interpreter, and Chu-A-Luk was sworn to watch the interpretation. 

Kong Soong said he knew Gah Poo, whose tent was a few yards from his own: in the end of September he went into it, and saw A-Lop using the knife produced : he was killing Gah Poo; he was striking him with it between the eyes, and in the left eye and behind the ear. He used the sharp end of the pick. Witness arrested the prisoner, with the assistance of another Chinaman, tied him with a rope, and sent for a constable. Witness heard some talking in the tent, and, when he went in, found Gah Poo lying down. He had no weapon, and the prisoner had no marks of violence. The talking had lasted for about a quarter of an hour. Prisoner's voice was loudest. Gah Poo and A-Lop were mates, and lived together; they were of one family. When witness entered, Gah Poo appeared to be dead, but afterwards breathed. Witness did not see prisoner strike, but saw him standing over deceased with the pick in his hand. The marks on the pick produced were blood at the time. Gah Poo was a large man. There was no other in the tent when witness entered it.

William Hicks, a constable at Avoca, was called to the Chinese Camp on the 25th September, and when he arrived at the Camp he saw Gah Poh lying apparently dead, with his head covered with blood. The prisoner was tied hand and foot to a tree and was taken into custody. The pick produced was sticking in the ground, and had some blood on it. 

Dr Morris had been called to see Gah Poo on the 25th September. Found a fracture of the bones forming the inner part of the orbit. One eye was quite destroyed. There was a fracture of the parietal bone on the left side. The face was covered with blood. The wounds were fatal and would have required considerable force to effect them. They must have been caused by an instrument like the pick produced. Made a post mortem examination on the5th October. Deceased died from the wounds. 

Prisoner said he was skylarking with Gah Poo and he got a scratch on his face and some blood came out, and the two first witnesses came in and tied them. 

Sing Chong was called, and said he is brother to prisoner, who was often cranky in China, and had been so five or six times since he came to the colony. When cranky, he did not wash his face, and made a mess in the tent. Once in China he chased people with a knife. On the night of Gah Poo's death he had not washed his face for two days. 

His Honor told the jury that if they considered the prisoner incapable of distinguishing right from wrong, they must acquit him on the ground of insanity. 

The Jury retired to deliberate, and in a few minutes brought in a verdict of Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, on the ground that they were doubtful of his sanity. 

His Honor intimated to the prisoner, that he would forward the recommendation of mercy to the Governor, and pronounce sentence of death.

Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Monday 14 December 1857, page 5

The Chinese man A Lop, convicted of murder at the last Circuit Court of Sandhurst, and sentenced to death, has had his sentence commuted to imprisonment for life. The commutation is grounded on the certificate of the medical officers which state that the man is insane.

A Lop, native of Hong Kong, aged 23 in 1858, was held in the Success prison hulk, Pentridge and Collingwood prisons, and on the Sacramento prison hulk. He was prisoner 3814. In January 1874 he was transferred to the Metropolitan Lunatic Asylum.

Ah Lop died in the Hospital for Insane, Kew, on 29 October 1914, aged 79 years. At the Coroner’s inquest the Superintendant, M. F. H. Gawler, stated 

The records show that the deceased Ah Lop was admitted to the above Institution on the 16th January 1874 on the warrant now produced. He was a quiet Chinaman & suffered from Dementia.

He remained in fair health until about a month ago when he showed signs of heart failure. He was put to bed and treated but died at 8.20 pm on the 29-Oct 1914.

He had no marks and no friends known to the department.

See also:

Wikitree:

A shortage of interpreters at Avoca

In 1873, the death of the well-known and very able Chinese court-room interpreter named Howqua left a significant vacancy in the administration of justice in the Colony. Substitutes were found, but not all of them were as capable as might be desired.

In November 1874 a Chinese miner called Ah Yen sought to prosecute Ellen Sherlock for hitting him with a broom-handle. A man named Ah Wing was a potential interpreter for the court case but there was some difficulty in swearing him in due to religion – he was in the process of becoming Christianised. The case was delayed by a fortnight  and a man named Loo Ching interpreted but the newspaper report of the case suggests he was not very fluent in English.

The Avoca Mail editorialised on the issue reporting the comments of Leonard Worsley, barrister-at-law in Avoca, that  “justice cannot be done because the complainant is a poor Chinaman.”

Shows a court room with judge or magistrate seated with scribe beside him, policemen, jury in foreground, lawyers at table in front of judge, a man standing in box facing judge with policeman beside him, Chinese man standing in box on left of judge.
Courtroom scene by Charles Lyall (about 1954).
A court room with judge or magistrate seated with scribe beside him, policemen, jury in foreground, lawyers at table in front of judge, a man standing in box facing judge with policeman beside him, Chinese man standing in box on left of judge.
State Library of Victoria Accession No : H87.63/2/7B

Avoca Mail, Friday 6 November 1874, page 2

The necessity for the appointment by the Government of a Chinese interpreter was demonstrated in the Police Court on Wednesday last. During the progress of business a case was called on, Ah Yen v Ellen Sherlock, in which the plaintiff charged the defendant with having assaulted him on the 27th of last month. Complainant was unable to speak English sufficiently to give his evidence, and asked for an interpreter, and the question then arose as to where one could be obtained. A Chinaman who was present, named Ah Wing, who spoke English with tolerable fluency, was requested to act; but then came a difficulty as to the mode to be adopted in swearing him. When asked what religion he professed, he said "Church of England," and went on to explain that he had for four weeks been taking lessons in Christianity, but that the minister declined to baptise him until he had received further instruction in his new faith. To swear the proposed interpreter by the match-extinguishing process would, under- the circumstances, have been ridiculous; while the Bench seemed to think that a month's instruction in Christian theology was scarcely sufficient to enable a Chinaman to properly understand all the obligations and responsibilities of the Christian oath. The case had therefore to be postponed until the 18th instant, in order that a suitable interpreter might be obtained— or, failing this, as we suppose, to give Mr Ah Wing an opportunity of completing his religious education — when the course of justice will probably proceed. Mr Worsley made a serious complaint of the delay on the part of the Government in appointing an interpreter in this neighborhood, and added that he was at loss where to obtain the services of a suitable person by the date of the adjournment. This drew from Mr Carr the announcement that the Government would not in future provide interpreters for private cases. For reasons of economy this is no doubt a wise decision, where many of the cases are of so exclusively private a nature that it would amount to a positive waste of the public money to provide an interpreter for every petty squabble in which a Chinaman takes part ; but in some cases — as, for instance, the one before the Court on Wednesday, where the keeping of the public peace was involved — the services, of an interpreter at the cost of the Government might well be allowed, as part of the national machinery for the punishment of offenders against the law. There are many cases daily brought before our Courts of Petty Sessions by private complainants which it would be the duty of the police to move in if the circumstances came to their knowledge, or took place under their personal observation, and in such instances as these the services of an interpreter should be provided. We suppose that if a constable had witnessed the alleged assault upon Ah Yen he would have arrested the aggressor, and the case would then have had the benefit of a Government interpreter. Although only a private summons case, as it now stands, the breach of the peace (if any has been committed) remains the same, and it does seem rather hard that, as Mr Worsley observed, "justice cannot be done because the complainant is a poor Chinaman." Apart altogether from these considerations, it is evident that with our large Chinese populations in all parts of the colony, there should be in every district a recognised and duly appointed interpreter, in order that suitors should not be compelled to engage the first English-speaking Chinaman to be obtained, and we hope that the Government will not longer delay the appointment of one, and also that they will reconsider their determination of excluding all private cases from the duties of their official interpreters.

Avoca Mail, Friday 6 November 1874, page 2

AVOCA POLICE COURT.
Wednesday, November 4th, 1874. (Before C. W. Carr, Esq., P.M.)
…
Ah Yen v Ellen Sherlock.— This was a summons for an assault alleged to have been committed on Tuesday the 27th ult., at Greenhill Creek. Mr Worsley appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Cooke for the defendant; In opening the case Mr Worsley explained that complainant, a miner, went on to the land occupied by defendant, when the defendant advanced upon him with a broomhandle. Complainant took up his tools to depart when the defendant struck him a severe blow on the left arm with the stick, which blow incapacitated him from following his daily labor, and rendered medical treatment necessary. The complainant, on being called upon for his evidence, expressed his inability to speak English, and desired an interpreter. Ah Wing, who was in court, was requested to officiate, but the Bench declined to swear him for the reason that he had forsaken his old faith, and was only in process of education into the tenets of the Christian religion. As it became evident that a postponement would be necessary, the Bench consented to receive the medical testimony in order to save expense to the parties. Dr Morris then deposed that he had examined the complainant and found swelling and discoloration on his arm. The injuries were sufficiently severe to render the complainant incapable of following his usual employment, and might have been inflicted by a blow from a broom-handle or any blunt instrument. The case was then adjourned to the 18th inst., at complainant's request, for want of an interpreter.

The case was heard a fortnight later with an interpreter named Loo Ching. Ah Yen was successful in his claim for damages. 

Avoca Mail, Friday 20 November 1874, page 2

AVOCA POLICE COURT.
Wednesday, November 18th, 1874. (Before C. W. Carr, Esq., P.M.)
…
Ah Yen v Ellen Sherlock. — This was an assault case which had been adjourned from the 4th inst for the attendance of an interpreter of the Chinese language. Loo Ching now appeared in that capacity to the best of his "lights," which were not particularly intelligible, and the case proceeded. Mr Worsley, barrister, appeared for the Chinaman and Mr Cooke for Mrs Sherlock. Complainant deposed that on the 27th of last month he went on to the premises of defendant's, husband to " take up a claim," and defendant came and struck him on the arm with a broom handle making a bad bruise, which Dr Morris, of Avoca, saw and attended him for. He was much hurt. Dr Morris, as we reported, attended on the last court day and gave evidence as to the nature of the injury Cross examined by Mr Cooke : Had a miner's, right (produced). Had said he would take £1 to settle the matter and would not take out summons. Understood the words, " One pound, no harm." Had a pick and shovel on his arm. Mr Cooke contended that Ah Yen had no right on defendant's land without notice, and that his threatening aspect caused fear on the part of his client, who admitted a blow with the broom-handle but that it was inflicted in self defence. Mrs Sherlock gave her statement of the affair, and the Bench, in deciding, said that certainly there was an assault committed, but it was to some extent provoked. Defendant was fined half a crown with costs of summons and surgeon's attendance also professional fee, amounting together to £1 5s 6d. The amount was paid.

The Avoca Chinese Garden

In 2012 Avoca was one of five Victorian towns with populations under 1500 that were selected by Regional Arts Victoria (RAV) to take part in Small Town Transformations. The projects focused on artistic legacy, creating artworks and arts spaces that would have a lasting impact on place.

It was felt the town’s Chinese heritage had been forgotten. A garden was seen as a way to celebrate Avoca’s Chinese heritage. The Avoca Chinese Garden was created over 18 months and officially opened on 11  October 2014.

Lyndal Jones, Artistic Director for The Avoca Project (2008-2019), was the artistic director for the Chinese Garden. The Avoca Project was the lead partner. Lindy Lee became the lead artist She was assisted by Mel Ogden landscape artist, Martin Wynn plantsman, and a committee of local residents.

Lyndal Jones explained the garden was inspired by the final symbol in the I Ching, the ancient Chinese divination book. “[The symbol] is called ‘Before Completion’ because it’s all about cycles,” … “So you think you’ve finished but in fact you’re just starting.”

The I Ching (Book of Changes), is an ancient Chinese divination text which provided guidance for decision-making. Bundles of yarrow stalks (stalks of the herbaceous perennial Achillea millefolium) are thrown to produce sets of six random numbers ranging from 6 to 9. Each of the 64 possible sets corresponds to a hexagram, the meaning of which can be looked up in the I Ching. The hexagram (卦 guà) is a figure composed of six stacked broken or unbroken horizontal lines (爻 yáo).

The final symbol (hexagram) in the I Ching is hexagram 64, 未濟 (wèi jì), which can be translated as “before completion” or “not yet finished”.  Its inner (lower) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.

A pavilion by a Chinese-Australian artist, Lindy Lee, combines traditional design with elements of the Australian shed, including burnt wooden columns and a lick of silver flames running across the roof. Lee also made a scholar rock, often collected and displayed in Chinese gardens.

Chinese plants have been mixed with Australian flora. The pond is filled by storm water from the main street, which is caught and cleaned in a large underground tank. Stones have been donated by farmers in the area, and slate from a nearby quarry.

The site of the 1/4 acre garden is on a former saleyard near the town’s original Chinese burial site. A 30 year lease over the land commenced in September 2013

More than ten years after its opening the garden has achieved its purpose of a sustainable town garden as a place for relaxation, contemplation and reflection.

August 2017
October 2020
January 2021
July 2021
July 2021
July 2021
September 2022
September 2022
September 2022
The garden through the seasons

Walking through the garden of Fire and Water: Notes by Mel Ogden

This is a garden planted with a number of symbolic Chinese plants within an Australian landscape, enfolding them from inside the garden and in the ‘borrowed’ garden beyond. 

Many of these plants have already migrated and are happily settled in Australian gardens.  

This story of successful plant ‘migration’ is a continuous one. The Pomegranate, for instance, migrated thousands of years ago to China from Iran and is now identified with various regions there. Others like the flowering quince (‘Japonica’)and the ‘Mt Fuji’ cherries we have planted are, now more closely identified with Japan although their origin was China. And the Chinese lotus is now a widely identified symbol across Asia, including India.

Our selection has been made on the basis of soil type (strongly alkaline), climate (heavy winter frosts and long hot dry summers) and avoidance of possums (which led us to avoid any of the many fruit trees including pears, peaches, locquats and apricots)  As part of the garden sits on a flood plain, this lower area is planted mainly with River Red Gums and grasses which happily survive inundation. Additionally, the symbolic Chinese plants have been selected to provide colour across the seasons.

Note: Only one plant selected for the garden comes from neither China nor Australia. The Dietes grandiflora, that line the banks of the high path, is native to South Africa. It is used here because it is so drought tolerant. Another South African tree, the peppercorn (now strongly identified as part of the Australian landscape) has been ‘borrowed’ from next door to provide a backdrop to the garden.

Australian plants

  • Eucalyptus Camaldulensis (River Red Gum)
  • Xanthorrhoea australis (grass tree)
  • Xanthorrhoea minor

With many other Australian grasses and ground covers

Some of these have been selected for their ability to ‘clean’ water and are planted in and around the pond. These include:

  • Anigozanthos flavidus green (tall green Kangaroo Paw)
  • Carex appressa   (tall sedge)
  • Carex fasicularis   (Tassel Sedge)
  • Baumea articulate  (jointed twig rush)
  • Dianella caerulea  (blue flax lily)
  • Eleocharis sphacelata  (Tall Spike Rush)
  • Erimophila debilis (winter apple)
  • Gahnia sieberiana  (red-fruit saw edge)
  • Juncus holoshoenus  (joint leaf rush)
  • Poa labillardierii (common tussock grass)

Winter colour

  • Nandina domestica  (Sacred Bamboo) berries in late winter
  • Chaenomeles  double red (Flowering quince)

Spring colour

  • Wisteria sinesis (Wisteria)   Flowers mid-late Spring         origin: China  
  • Prunus serrulata ‘Mt Fuji’ (flowering cherry)     origin: Japan Korea, China
  • Paeonia      a symbol of spring, it represents nobility and value, female beauty and reproduction.                                            origin: China  

Summer colour

  • Punica granatum (pomegranate)     represents fertility, called ‘100 sons fruit’.   origin: Iran (but also identified with China) Suggested by Melbourne Botanic Gardens
  • Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus)           represents ultimate purity and perfection because it rises ‘untainted and beautiful from the mud’. Medicinal properties origin: China
  •  (day lily)                    represents filial devotion to one’s mother and wealth   origin: China

Autumn colour

  • Ginko Bilboa (maidenhair tree) the nuts represent hope for silver, wealth Medicinal     origin: China
  • Pomelo          abundance, prosperity, represents family unity.    Gift from Mr Russell Jack and the Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo     origin; China
  • Prunus serrulata ‘Mt Fuji’ (flowering cherry)           origin: Japan Korea, China

Bamboo – the pith represents long life, and the shoots, wealth and a new start Origin; China

See also: