During the gold rush Chinese immigrants made up a quarter of Bendigo’s population, but now only one percent trace their ancestry back to these diggers. The goldfields were a dangerous place in the 19th century particularly for Chinese miners who faced inhibitory discrimination and suffered xenophobic attacks. Despite this many made Bendigo their home and helped shape the city it is today. Their legacy can be seen in the annual Chinese Dragon parade, Golden Dragon Museum, and Chinese gardens. And some miners still haunt the Chinese section of a local cemetery although many of the bodies were exhumed. 

Reporting by Bendigo Advertiser journalists Petula Bowa and Tom O’Callaghan who writes a semi-regular history series on his hometown, called ‘What Happened?’

Read the feature article: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7763262/

More about 'Swedish Charlie;: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7762980/ 

This podcast was produced by Laura Corrigan and Tom Melville.

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