At a time of uncertainty driven by military conflict and subsequent concerns over resource scarcity, it can pay to know who you can rely upon.

On the Thursday prior to ANZAC Day weekend, numerous parliamentary ministers and Chinese community representatives converged at Queensland’s Parliament House to reinforce a bond that dates back to 1848.

Brisbane’s Chinese Consul-general, Mr Ruan Zongzi, said, “This world is not peaceful, less stable, Peace and stability is kind of a dream we’re working for…

“However, Australia and China, we are very much committed to achieving this kind of a dream,” Mr Ruan Zongzi said.

The occasion was the unveiling of the St George Chinese Community Memorial Committee Portable Memorial by Peter Russo, the MP for the Queensland state seat of Toohey.

The original, which was built by Wing Hing Construction, features an illustration by Kamilaroi school student Rory (formally Daisy) Brown, was installed in St George Cemetery early 2019.

Honorary Chairman of the St George Chinese Community Memorial Committee (SCCMC), Mr Lewis Lee explained, “Why?  because there was a brush fire in 1970… burned down all the grass.

“And, also there is no headstones…headstones all burn down.

“We found that on the Balone council records it’s all ‘Chinaman, Chinaman, Chinaman’.

“That’s why we come back and formed a steering committee,” said Mr Lee.

Contemporary diaspora communities raised over $70 000 in a year and a half to honour this first “organised movement of labour from China”.

“…the Amoy shepherds come to the Darling Downs minding sheep,” Mr Lee said.

“Most, if not all, did not see their families again.

“The SCCMC stands to honour the spirit of their sacrifice,” said Mr Lee.             

“Amoy shepherds” is a term typically associated with a group of indentured labourers sent from present-day Xiamen in Fujian province to Australia between 1848 and 1853 by British firms Tait & Co. and Syme, Muir & Co.

The period falls within an interlude between military conflicts that have become known in the English vernacular as the “Opium Wars”.

Between 1850 and 1851 alone, over three hundred of them entered Moreton Bay, with the primary agent for their importation, Robert Towns, purportedly declaring

that he “saved” the colony “from ruin” though Chinese labour.

Their contribution to the establishment of this state, with its pre-Separation reliance upon wool for economic stability, cannot be overstated.

In 1846, the population of the then Northern districts outside of Brisbane was approximately 1300 and the pastoralists were unable to recruit sufficient shepherds.

 Prior to the establishment of St George in 1862, the locale fell into the geographic region of Maranoa and the police district of Drayton (modern-day Toowoomba).

According to the founder of Queensland’s AMOY Immigrants to Australia – A Descendants Group, Ms Linda Coonan, George Keong arrived in 1852.

In 1857, the former shepherd of Goomburra Station purchased land in nearby Warwick, upon which he operated a bakery and a boarding house.

Perhaps reflective of the reception received by Amoy men, many also chose to settle in the “the jewel of the diadem of squatterdom” after completing their five-year contracts.

The founding member of the Chinese Australian Historical Society, Dr Michael Williams, believes an example of this may be found in John Gor Tuyan (吳周燕).

After crossing the contemporary border from New South Wales in 1856, Tuyan worked as a farmer, butcher and shopkeeper in Toowoomba, Dalby and Brisbane.

SCCMC Committee members explained that the scaled down, portable, version of the St George based memorial would serve to broaden awareness of the Amoy shepherds of their region.

However, the Amoy indentured labourers were initially contracted across present-day Brisbane, Ipswich, Beaudesert, Maryborough and Rockhampton.

In addition to shepherding, they were imported fulfilled a broad range of tasks from horse breaking to making tallow.

Subsequently, it may serve to appease their restless souls and offer a place of solace for their innumerable descendants across the state.

Mr Zongzi reflected, “I think that Chinese community has played a tremendous part in Australia’s history, culture, society… And, I’m sure that will play an even bigger role in the future.

And, I think they have become a bridge, a strong connection between Australia… and China… people to people engagements are extremely important.”

By Pamela See