Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, Victoria | Community organisation

Golden Dragon Museum

Locality: Bendigo, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5441 5044

Address: 1 - 11 Bridge Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. 3550 Bendigo, VIC, Australia

Website: https://www.goldendragonmuseum.org

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25.01.2022 Although the Golden Dragon Museum is closed due to Covid 19 restrictions you can still see some of our artifacts on display at the Post Office Gallery's exhibition on the history of the Bendigo Easter Fair, on now at the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre which is currently open. #explorebendigo #bendigo #chinesedragon #chineseliondance COVID 19Bendigo

24.01.2022 Volunteer Board Directors Expressions of Interest invited. The National Chinese Museum of Australia Ltd. (Golden Dragon Museum) is a highly regarded, not-for-profit cultural institution located in Bendigo. Opened in 1991, the Museum is going through a period of growth and rejuvenation and is seeking up to two volunteer Board Directors to work with the company in achieving its bold vision and ambitious redevelopment plans. If you are passionate about supporting one of Bendigo’...s iconic tourist destinations we would welcome your EOI. Please visit https://www.goldendragonmuseum.org/ for more details. () 1991 https://www.goldendragonmuseum.org/

23.01.2022 Deliciously interactive virtual wine tasting from the comfort of your own home, Friday 6th November, live from the Golden Dragon Museum. Once registered you'll... receive 3 bottles of handcrafted Bendigo wine. Price: $85 Part of Bendigo Heritage Uncorked - The Unseen Series Details at www.bendigowine.org.au

22.01.2022 Throwback Thursday this week takes us back to c.1940, and the corrugated iron home of Arthur "Tiger" See Hoe (1913-2009) at Innisfail, Queensland. Arthur was a farmer and truck driver who worked with the Civil Construction Corps during the war years. Born in Port Douglas, See Hoe spoke about these years to historian Diana Giese: "It was just rain and sugar-cane, Innisfail. When I first came down here it used to rain nine months of the yearand then the Wet season would start... In 1941, straight after they [the Americans] came out, we were commandeered. I had to drive my truck to Charters Towers to build the airstrips. You know, we built the complete airstrip in maybe twelve weeks." (Collection Golden Dragon Museum)

21.01.2022 Throwback Thursday this week takes us back 50 years to the 1970 Easter Parade and a lion dance performance at Charing Cross. Appearing with the lion are two "clowns" or Dai Tau Fat (literally "Big headed Buddhas" who tease and interact with both the lion and the crowd. The uniform of the team appears to be that of the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne (C.Y.S.M.) who have continued their involvement with the Bendigo Easter Festival to the present day. (Collection Golden Drag...on Museum) 501970Charing(c.y.s.m.)

17.01.2022 As it's National Bird Week we note that our collection features many avian motifs across a variety of media. Most often used is the legendary Phoenix, but other more commonplace birds can be found on various items signaling a number of cultural meanings. #explorebendigo #bendigo #explorebendigo #bendigo

17.01.2022 An eye catching shot by @justpa259 of the mountain pavilion in our Yi Gardens with the Victorian era clock tower of the old Bendigo Post Office in the background at right. #bendigo #explorebendigo #visitvictoria @justpa259#bendigo #explorebendigo #visitvictoria

17.01.2022 Vale Stanley Vincent Lee Kim (1924-2020) Stan Kim was born and grew up at the Lee Kim family market garden at Grassy Flat near Bendigo. Stan's grandfather William Lee Kim 1857-1943 had migrated to Bendigo from Guangdong province in the nineteenth century, and had settled down at Grassy Flat with wife Ellen Plowright in the 1880s - both of them were important parental figures to Stan as he was growing up in the 1920s and '30s. The annual Bendigo Easter parade with its famo...us dragon dance was an important part of the Lee Kim's family traditions - Stan's father George and brother George Jr were well known head carriers while Stan often carried the tail, which is also a position of honour. In World War II Stan Kim saw active service with the Royal Australian Navy in the Pacific, and in the past month he was one of the dwindling number of veterans to see the 75th anniversary of the end of that conflict. At the Golden Dragon Museum we were privileged to have Stan drop by several times in his later years during which he was always happy to share reminiscences and stories of the often challenging times through which he lived. He also agreed to be interviewed on the record as part of an oral history project. He was forthright about the discrimination he experienced as a child and the poverty of growing up on a market garden during the Great Depression, but his tales were often told with wit and humour. Stan Kim recently passed away peacefully at Ballarat surrounded by his family. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him. Vale Stanley Vincent Lee Kim (1924-202096) Stan Kim Grassy FlatLee Kim1857-19431980 Grassy Flat20203075 Ballarat

15.01.2022 Louey Sam Wah (pictured) was the principal of the Sam Wah Gardens in Bullock Creek Road (now MacKenzie Street West) at the location of the old Golden Square Chinese village which had been established in the 1850s. His business, which also went under the English language title of Sam Wah Brothers, was operated in partnership with Louey Len and Louey Doon, the latter being a well known performer and cultural custodian of the dragon parade tradition in Bendigo. Sam Wah B...rothers operated during the first three decades of the twentieth century and produced vegetables, particularly tomatoes, on a large scale - in 1917 they planted 1,000 seedlings, which was reportedly a typical crop size. Sam Wah were also frequent contributors to charity, making regular donations to the Bendigo Hospital. Louey Sam Wah passed away aged 57 in 1928. Local community and industry leaders attended his funeral, including a representative of the Rosella Factory for which he had been an important supplier. Sam Wah had been resident in Bendigo since his late teens, returning occasionally to China to visit family. Today the only known images of this important Bendigo businessman are from his Certificate of Exemption to the Dictation Test, a necessity for him to return to his home and business from overseas under the unfair strictures of the White Australia Policy. Local historian James Lerk has recently written more on the contribution of Sam Wah and other growers of various backgrounds to Bendigo's once prospering and now largely forgotten tomato industry. His book "Bendigo's once flourishing Tomato Industry" is available from the author for $45 plus postage (outside of Greater Bendigo) and he can be contacted at [email protected] . We were pleased to have assisted James with some research for this publication. (), Golden SquareBullock CreekMacKenzieLouey LenLouey DoonLouey Doon19171000 192857 James Lerk (Bendigo’s once flourishing Tomato Industry) 45 () jamesalerk@gmail. com James

15.01.2022 T. C. Chinn and wife Mabel (nee Wong) with their children Eunice (Kim Oy), Valda (Kim Laan), and Max (Yin Toy). Eunice was a an army wireless operator in Melbourne, Sydney and Alice Springs, as well as a signals instructor at Bonegilla. Valda was a radar plotter with the WAAF, while Max went with the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces to Japan after the War. In peacetime the Chinns often performed together as a talented musical ensemble under Mabel's leadership, fundraising for charitable causes such as Australian bushfire relief and the aiding of Chinese refugees during the Sino-Japanese War.

14.01.2022 A Flashback Friday post taking us back to the 1950s as old Loong parades in Bridge Street, a moment captured by the late Bendigo photographer Alan Doney. Loong, now more than a century old and heritage listed, will once again be receiving visitors at the Golden Dragon Museum as we reopen to the public from tomorrow, Saturday 14th November. Our opening times going forward will be Wednesday to Sunday 9.30 AM to 5.00 PM (CLOSED Monday and Tuesday) until further notice. We look forward to seeing you.

14.01.2022 On Remembrance Day we pay tribute to all those who have served and suffered in times of conflict. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, and so we will be sharing some photos and stories from our archives of men and women who served in Australia's armed forces at that time. George Sang (pictured) will be familiar to, and remembered fondly by, many Bendigonians. He was the Bendigo Chinese Association's cracker man at Easter and served as an Elder of the community, performing traditional ceremonies such as the Blessing of the Dragon. He was also a driver for many years with Bendigo Tramways. Originally hailing from a Cohuna market gardening family, George enlisted in the Australian Army and served in New Guinea during the Second World War.

12.01.2022 A charming childhood portrait from an exhibition currently at the Orange Regional Museum.

12.01.2022 Throwback Thursday this week takes us back to the mid 20th century and beneath the shady verandahs of the old Bridge Street Chinatown. Pictured here is the large wooden sign of the Chee Kung Tong or Chinese Masonic Society Hall, as well as the smaller business sign of herbalist and CMS member Willie Toy who lived on site. The wooden hall, originally a shop building known as Hop Yick before becoming the home of the Chinese Masonic during the First World War, was unfortu...nately demolished in 1975 after it had become derelict. Today the Yi Gardens occupies its former site. Many items were salvaged from the hall before its demolition, including the Chee Kung Tong sign, which is now in the collection of the Golden Dragon Museum. 20 Willie Toy 1975

12.01.2022 This week we have a Flashback Friday post which takes us back to the Bellarine Peninsular in the nineteenth century. In this illustration Chinese fisherman haul in their catch from Port Philip Bay at St Leonards. The Chinese fishing community had an important role in the economic and civic life of the region - in 1863 26 of the 183 signatories of the successful petition to create the Borough of Queenscliffe bore Chinese names and as many as twenty boats were operated by the c...ommunity from that port. (Picture credit: State Library of Victoria) Bellarine1863183(Queenscliffe) 26 (: )

11.01.2022 Spring has sprung in the Yi Gardens :-) . #bendigo #explorebendigo

07.01.2022 We are proud to be part of Bendigo's Buy Now Stay Later promotion which offers $830+ of value for $350. The promotion expires soon at midnight on Sunday 27th September so make sure that you don't miss out on this fantastic offer which includes: 2-night stay, upgrade on arrival, plus early check-in and late check-out A Taste of Bendigo gift pack valued at $100+... VIP tutored local wine tasting experience Your choice of two Bendigo attraction experiences for two people Your choice of local gin tasting, or pre-dinner cocktails. A $50 accommodation voucher for your next stay, or to share. https://offers.bendigoregion.com.au/buy-now-stay-later Bendigo Buy Now Stay Later 830350927: 100 50 https://offers.bendigoregion.com.au/buy-now-stay-later

07.01.2022 Throwback Thursday this week takes us back to the Peg Leg Gully (Eaglehawk) gold rush via a nineteenth century engraving. Indigenous (Dja Dja Wurrung), European, American, and Chinese people are depicted in this scene meant to represent the gully on the 10th day after gold discovery as a canvas town of shops goes up to meet the needs of the gold seekers. This illustration was published in the Australasian Sketcher in 1879 as a contemporary recollection of the gold rush perio...d of 25 years before. (Collection Golden Dragon Museum) Peg Leg GullyEaglehawk) 10 (Dja Dja Wurrung) 187925

07.01.2022 Catherine and husband Reg Lee Suey posing together during the war years. Reg was the grandson and son of Chinese interpreters at Castlemaine. Of Irish and Chinese descent and with red hair, Reg was sent as a child to live with relatives in Guangdong Province after the early death of his father. While he was away Reg's elder brother Roy died from illness while serving in Europe during World War I. Reg returned to Australia in his twenties, and found employment as a waiter and ...cook working in some of Melbourne's Chinese restaurants. He also maintained his links to Central Victoria, leading the old dragon Loong in the Easter Parade at Bendigo. During World War II Reg Lee Suey served as an army cook. One photo in the Australian War Memorial collection taken by renowned war photographer Damien Parer shows Reg preparing a goose for the pot while stationed at Gaza in the Middle East. After the war Reg's health declined and he passed away in 1957. Reg Lee Suey was laid to rest at Bendigo's White Hills Cemetery.

07.01.2022 A beautiful day to visit Bendigo and our museum's Yi Gardens. #bendigo #explorebendigo #visitvictoria

05.01.2022 The Bendigo Chinese Association and Golden Dragon Museum today announced the cancellation of the Harvest Moon Festival for 2020 due to COVID-19. As with many other events, current health restrictions make it impossible for this year’s Harvest Moon Festival to proceed. In 2020 the Harvest Moon falls on 1 October and the Festival celebrations where planned for 3 October. The Harvest Moon Festival is one of the highlights of the annual Chinese calendar of events and festivals i...n Bendigo. Marking the traditional start of the Autumn harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere, Harvest Moon Festival is celebrated across various Asian cultures and each year hundreds of people enjoy the celebration held in Bendigo on the Dai Gum San Precinct to mark this important and happy occasion. The Golden Dragon Museum is looking forward to welcoming everyone back once the Museum is able to reopen. Please keep an eye on our website for details of when this will be. (Image: Marla Rajics and Liming Liao performing during the 2019 Harvest Moon Festival in front of dragon Gwong Loong) 2020 101103 2019Marla Rajics Liming Liao

04.01.2022 A view from the park_benches Facebook page of the exterior of the Guan Yin Temple complex from the nearby pavilion in the Dai Gum San Precinct. (Please note that while the Dai Gum San precinct is a permanently open public space, the Yi Gardens, Guan Yin Temple, and Golden Dragon Museum remain closed until government restrictions on the opening of museums and galleries are lifted). ... ()

04.01.2022 This week's Throwback Thursday post takes us back around 120 years to a Bendigo photographic studio and the children of Bridge Street merchant Louey O'Hoy and his wife Ah Kit. Standing at back are Kwong and Kim while seated at front are Meelan, Fee, Que, and Sheow. Eldest brother Que had been born in the family's home village of Wah Lock in Toishan County while the other children were all born in Bendigo. Fee and Que were to maintain the family's business presence in the Bridge Street Chinatown during the first half of the 20th century, while the other siblings also sought opportunities overseas in Hong Kong. (Collection Golden Dragon Museum)

03.01.2022 Throwback Thursday this week takes us back to the Yam Yan Grocery Store in Darwin in the 1920s, with businessman Chin Pak "Joseph" Cheong, his wife Ethel and his four children Philip, Margaret, Ada and Thomas in their 'Model T' Ford car, 1926. Cheong was born in Darwin (then called Palmerston) in 1898, his father Chin Yam Yan being a prominent local merchant whose family roots were in San Wui county in Guangdong province. Ethel Cheong was born Goot Ying Lee - she and Joseph ...had a large family of nine children, five of whom were born in the years after this photo was taken. (Collection Golden Dragon Museum) 2020 Yam Yan 1926 T1898() ()

02.01.2022 Today is the Mid Autumn Festival (also known as Harvest Moon or simply the Moon Festival) in the traditional Chinese luni-solar calendar. A traditional time of giving thanks and family gatherings, this festival was first celebrated in Bendigo by the Chinese miners on the goldfields in the 1850s and has been part of our cultural heritage ever since. We wish everyone a happy and safe celebration. 1950

01.01.2022 This week's artefact spotlight is on a piece of ephemera from the Cheong family collection with a connection to the current season. This Heathcote Spring Show prize ticket was presented to Mr H. J. (Herbert James) Cheong of Puckapunyal for coming second in the competition for "Best Buggy Horse". The Heathcote Show is still an annual event in that town's calendar that is held on the first Tuesday of each November, but has had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic. He...rbert Cheong was born at the goldmining town of Whroo near Rushworth in 1877 to Luke Ah Cheong and Ellen Donovan, who had migrated to the goldfields from China and England respectively. He qualified as a state school teacher in 1895, and had a long career teaching at various country schools. Herbert's last posting was at Kallista in the Yarra Ranges and he retired there with his wife Hanna. He passed away in 1954. HeathcotePuckapunyal Heathcote11 1877 RushworthWhroo 1895 Kallista Hanna 1954

01.01.2022 A short video on master craftsman Hui Ka Hung, his creation Dai Gum Loong, and his important relationship with the Golden Dragon Museum.