Above: Museum of the Riverina – Wagga Wagga

In the mid to late nineteenth century a combination of powerful push and pull factors led to an unprecedented rise in Chinese migration to Australia. After 2 years of research and collection surveys, Dr Barry McGowan and the Museum of the Riverina presented the Tracking The Dragon: A History Of The Chinese In The Riverina exhibition and a substantial illustrated catalogue. The exhibition and book were launched by John Petersen, Manager, NSW Migration Heritage Centre at the Historic Council Chambers site on 9 December 2010.  

The object and image rich exhibition reveals a complex and poignant narrative that examines both the public and private lives of the Chinese Australian experience in the Riverina and Murray regions.  The exhibition was funded by Wagga Wagga City Council, Arts NSW and the NSW Migration Heritage Centre. The exhibition moved to the Albury LibraryMuseum in April 2011 and the Centre produced a web version for students.

 Tracking The Dragon is the umbrella name for Chinese research in NSW assisted by the Australian Chinese Historical Society. It uses a thematic study method developed by the former Australian Heritage Commission in 2002. The NSW Migration Heritage Centre and the Powerhouse Museum, assisted by the Australian Chinese Historical Society, are respected for their leading support for Chinese heritage research in Australia, most recently for Golden Threads: The Chinese In Regional NSW 1850-1950 and Families Of Fortune: Chinese People In The Tweed – and now for Tracking The Dragon: A History Of  The Chinese in The Riverina.

Documentation of the region’s Chinese-Australian collections through the Museum of the Riverina and AlburyLibrary Museum, and some 7 local volunteer-run historical societies, is continuing.

View the Museum of the Riverina and NSW Migration Heritage Centre online exhibition more