Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia

The Hidden Half

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:30:22 GMT

In this final episode of the season, A/Prof Yu Tao and Lucy Hair come together to uncover the overlooked histories of Chinese women in Western Australia. They reflect on the lives of figures such as Rose Soong Quong, Grace Wang Ah Key, and others whose stories are only now emerging from immigration files, archival traces, and family memories. Their conversation highlights the experiences of women who navigated exclusion and constraint while shaping family and community life in enduring ways. As the season concludes, this episode invites listeners to rethink the gendered contours of migration and belonging within the broader tapestry of Western Australia’s Chinese heritage.

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Felix Wong and Café Canton

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:59:51 GMT

This episode features Yu Tao and Lucy Hair in conversation about the remarkable story of Felix Wong, the original founder of Café Canton. Long before the restaurant gained fame under Wong Sue during the Second World War, Felix Wong opened its doors in 1929—a period when Western Australia’s Chinese community was shrinking under restrictive immigration policies. Through his determination to build a business and keep his family together, Felix Wong’s story offers a moving glimpse into the resilience and everyday perseverance of Chinese Australians during a difficult era.

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Two Centuries on Display

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 02:37:19 GMT

This episode features Yu Tao, Benjamin Smith, and Lucy Hair in conversation about the forthcoming exhibition Making Home under Southern Skies: Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia. Drawing on the project’s digital archive of over 3,500 known migrants, alongside family histories and community contributions, the exhibition brings together two centuries of Chinese Western Australian stories on an unprecedented scale. Together, the hosts reflect on the inspirations behind the displays, the challenges of curating history into exhibition form, and the hopes for what visitors will take away from this landmark event.

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Paul and Peter

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 03:30:23 GMT

This episode features A/Prof Yu Tao reflecting on the lives and legacies of Paul Soong Quong and Peter Tom Yingman—two visionary leaders of the early Chinese community in Western Australia. Through personal stories and archival discoveries, Yu explores how these pioneers helped shape the cultural, political, and spiritual foundations of Chinese Australian life in the early 20th century. From church halls to Chinatown cafés, and from community activism to transnational advocacy, their contributions continue to resonate in the multicultural fabric of today’s WA.

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Chinese Cabinet Makers

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This episode features A/Prof Yu Tao in conversation with Lucy Hair, exploring the untold stories of Chinese cabinet makers in early 20th-century Western Australia. Together, they examine how these skilled craftspeople navigated restrictive legislation, economic hardship, and social marginalisation—offering insight into the wider history of Chinese contributions to the state. Through personal stories and archival discoveries, this episode sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Western Australia’s multicultural past.

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A Mysterious Death in Onslow

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:32:56 GMT

This episode features A/Prof Yu Tao in conversation with Prof Benjamin Smith, examining the mysterious death of Ah Hing, a Chinese laundryman in the late 19th-century town of Onslow, Western Australia. Drawing on witness testimonies and the official inquest, the hosts explore how this case sheds light on the lives and struggles of Chinese labourers in remote colonial outposts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Sing & Co.

Sun, 04 May 2025 14:23:28 GMT

In this episode, Associate Professor Yu Tao joins Professor Benjamin Smith to uncover the remarkable story of See Sing & Co., a pioneering Chinese Australian business that served the remote communities of Cassac, Broome, and Roebourne during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their conversation reveals how this little-known enterprise functioned as a lifeline for settlers in the north while reflecting the broader experiences of early Chinese Western Australians navigating opportunity, adversity, and belonging. As Western Australia transformed from colony to state, See Sing & Co. offers a powerful lens into the resilience, adaptability, and enduring legacy of Chinese-run businesses in the region’s evolving social and economic landscape.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese Market Gardens

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:00 GMT

This episode features A/Prof Yu Tao in conversation with Lucy Hair and Prof Benjamin Smith, delving into the rich and often overlooked history of Chinese market gardens in Western Australia. Together, they reflect on the limited occupational opportunities for Chinese migrants in the early twentieth century, and how market gardening became both a livelihood and a lasting cultural contribution. The discussion also highlights the enduring legacy of these gardens, their role in shaping WA’s food culture, and the significance of recording these stories through digital storytelling and community engagement.

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Liang Qichao's 1900 Visit to Western Australia

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 01:29:32 GMT

In this episode, A/Prof Yu Tao revisits Liang Qichao’s little-known 1900 visit to Western Australia—a brief yet revealing moment in the history of the local Chinese community on the eve of Federation. Drawing on Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia (www.ChineseWA.net), this episode explores how Chinese migrants navigated both Australia’s nationhood and China’s reform movement.

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Our Digital Portal

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 02:27:41 GMT

This episode features A/Prof Yu Tao in conversation with Prof Benjamin Smith, exploring the digital portal Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia (www.ChineseWA.net), hosted on UWA Collected. Together, they discuss the portal’s rich features, the evolving contributions of the Chinese community, and the vital role of digital archives in preserving and sharing these stories.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Anne Atkinson

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 17:12:58 GMT

This episode features Dr Anne Atkinson, a pioneering researcher in Chinese heritage in Western Australia. Since the 1970s, Anne has amassed nearly 10,000 pages of archival material, documenting the lives of 3,000 early Chinese migrants to the state. In late 2024, project officer Lucy Hair interviewed Anne and now shares key moments from their conversation with A/Prof Yu Tao, reflecting on Anne’s remarkable contributions and enduring legacy.

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Moon Chow

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:50:51 GMT

This episode features the legacy of the man named Moon Chow, the first documented Chinese Western Australian. A/Prof Yu Tao and Prof Benjamin Smith discuss Moon Chow's early arrival to the newly established Swan River Colony in 1830 and more about his life, his marriage, and his tragic yet impactful death. For more details, please visit www.ChineseWA.net.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.