Dunedin's Chinese history explored in new documentary

Dunedin (Wednesday, 18 January 2017) – Dunedin's Chinese history and heritage is explored in a new documentary film created by a team from Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and the Dunedin Chinese Garden – Lan Yuan.

The Journey to Lan Yuan traces the journey early Chinese settlers took to establish themselves in Otago and the development of their community, which eventually led to the construction of the Dunedin Chinese Garden.

At the request of the Chinese community, the documentary is presented by Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Curator Seán Brosnahan, who has curated five exhibitions on the Otago Chinese.

Mr Brosnahan says, "The documentary will help viewers gain a full understanding of where our Chinese community originally came from, what they went through in getting here and how they had to establish themselves in difficult conditions and with a degree of social exclusion."

Otago's Chinese community began settling here from 1865 after an invitation from the Otago Provincial Government. By the 1880s, there were over 5,000 Chinese in Otago, making them the most significant ethnic group in the province outside the European mining population. Many established successful businesses.

Officially opened in 2008, the Dunedin Chinese Garden was built as a fitting, permanent recognition of those early Chinese settlers and their contributions to the history, economy and culture of Dunedin.

Filming of the documentary took place during 2016 at significant sites around Otago, Southland and Northland. The crew also travelled to parts of Australia and China to trace the journey the gold miners made from their home villages in China to Victoria, Australia and then Otago where many stayed.

The Journey to Lan Yuan will be available for viewing at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum at 10.15am and 1pm each day from Friday, 27 January until April, and at the Dunedin Chinese Garden in the future.

© Scoop Media