Chinese Camp
A new story of Australia’s Democracy
Sovereign Hill’s new Chinese Camp is a $1.8million project representing more than three years’ research and nine months work to bring to life the great story of struggle endured by Chinese prospectors on the Ballarat goldfields in the 1850s and the discriminatory laws and taxes imposed upon them on their arrival in a far away land.
Supported by $500,000 funding from the Federal Government’s Regional Partnerships programme, the project will be launched by Senator Julian McGauran, Senator for Victoria, on Thursday, June 7, 2007 before an audience of more than 150 invited guests and dignitaries including the Chinese Consul General, Mr Liang Shugen.
The new Chinese Camp delivers a much richer interpretation of the Chinese heritage on the goldfields through the use of cutting edge technology and touch screens.
It provides yet another point of interest for the 45,000 Chinese-speaking visitors who come to Sovereign Hill each year. It also reinforces Sovereign Hill’s longstanding reputation as a destination providing high quality interpretation and exhibits suited to the Asian market. Among the many tents and huts, visitors will find vegetable gardens and live animals such as pigs and chickens.
Many Chinese miners came to the Victorian goldfields during the great 19th century gold rushes – mostly from the province of Guangdong. “They left an indelible mark on our society and our culture as well as our mining heritage,” says Tim Sullivan, Sovereign Hill’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Museums Director.
“An important element of Sovereign Hill’s interpretation of Australia’s goldrush history is the story of the Chinese miners who came to Australia in search of their fortunes.This project allows Sovereign Hill to tell a powerful story in a way that immerses visitors in the experience".
“It is a great story about the development of democracy in Australia, and a fitting companion to another story of other diggers fighting for their rights – Sovereign Hill’s sound-and-light spectacular, Blood on the Southern Cross,” Mr Sullivan said
