Chinese Australian history EP1: The museum passing on Chinese history & culture in Bendigo

Located around 150 kilometers northwest of the Australian city of Melbourne, Bendigo is a former mining town that attracted hundreds of thousands of Chinese gold prospectors in the 19th century.

You can still find the rich legacy of Chinese history and culture in the region today, as it has become a significant part of the town's cultural identity.

Over the past 119 years, the descendants of these early migrants to Bendigo have been keeping a traditional custom alive by joining the annual Bendigo Easter Festival parade with the community's three imperial dragons – Loong, Sun Loong, and Dai Gum Loong.

Russell Jack is one of the descendants trying to preserve Bendigo's Chinese history and culture. He founded the Golden Dragon Museum in 1991 with his wife, Joan. With a rich collection of Chinese artefacts and costumes, the museum has become one of the city's most well-known tourist attractions. But now that Russell, who is 84 years old, has stepped down from the role of museum director, a cloud of uncertainty is hanging over the future of the museum.

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Reporter: Sana Fong

Cameraman: John Ho

With special thanks to:

Golden Dragon Museum

Russell Jack

Anita Jack

Leigh McKinnon