Researchers Barry McGowan and Genevieve Mott are studying the Chinese history of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne council areas and are making a public appeal for original material.

Orange City Council Cultural Heritage Community Committee chairman Cr Reg Kidd said it was important the museum included the Chinese history and culture in the district, with early work confirming Chinese people were in the region from the late 1840s.

“Hundreds of Chinese people came to western NSW during the gold rushes, although many also came before then as indentured labourers,” he said.

“The involvement of the Chinese in gold mining was long-standing and interspersed with long periods in market gardening in almost every town and village in the district. Many of the gardens lasted well into the 1950s.”

Cr Kidd said some Chinese also worked as pastoral labourers or land clearers, and others were storekeepers and ran other businesses.

“The region still has a number of well-known Chinese entrepreneurial families founded by Billy Soo and William (Billy) Lee from Blayney, Hang Sing and the Ah See family from Orange, the Tankee (Tankey) family from Carcoar and Sam Lok from Molong,” he said.

Orange’s The Cheeky Barista owner Rodney Soo grew up in Blayney and started looking into his heritage when he was about 11, and said it was important to remember.

His father Billy Soo moved to the area from China more than 50 years ago, while ancestors on his mother’s side, which include Irish, Aboriginal and Chinese ancestors date back to the gold rush. 

“When I was teased for being Asian I wanted to find out who I was, and not knowing your identity is quite hard,” he said.

“There seems to be a lot of Chinese out here ... Orange has a great history of Chinese culture.”

Anyone with photos, Chinese artefacts and memorabilia can meet with the researchers on Friday, September 4, from 3pm to 6pm in the West Room at Orange Regional Gallery.

Bookings should be made to Alison Russell by phoning 6393 8170 or email museum@orange.nsw.gov.au.