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Quiz about A ChineseCheckered History
Quiz about A ChineseCheckered History

A Chinese-Checkered History Trivia Quiz


Australia's abundant resources and natural beauty have attracted immigrants for hundreds of years. One enterprising people group brought medicine, labourers, and skills in market gardening - the Chinese. This is a little of their story.

A multiple-choice quiz by VegemiteKid. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
VegemiteKid
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
367,578
Updated
May 23 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
289
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Because many explorers travelled round the Cape of Good Hope, the earliest recordings of foreign arrival on Australian soil, including that of the first documented Chinese immigrant, Moon Chow, are found in which Australian state? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What discovery brought large numbers of Chinese, along with prospectors of many other nations, to Australia in 1851?

Answer: (One Word, 4 letters)
Question 3 of 10
3. After the coming of the British to Australia, land soon opened up for settlers. The majority of these were British, of course, but where did the Chinese rank in terms of settler numbers in the early 19th century? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Aspirations of striking it rich brought large numbers of Chinese to the Victorian goldfields in Ballarat, from what British colony? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The Chinese who emigrated to Australia struggled for many reasons, not the least of which was the language barrier. In Ballarat, Robert 'Chinese' Bell was unique amongst the locals in seeking to integrate the Chinese into the general population, by means of what ingenious initiative? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. To escape the landing tax imposed by the Victorian government, many Chinese coming to find their fortune in the Victorian goldfields found a warm welcome by landing instead at what South Australian seaport? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. One aspect of Chinese culture that enabled the Chinese to cope much better in the harsh conditions prevalent in Australia was that they formed working collectives, unlike most other immigrant groups, who tended to work as individuals. By what name did these groups of Chinese become known, a name familiar in most large cities across the world? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What Australian government policy, introduced in 1901, meant that Chinese (and other) immigration was greatly reduced? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. At the time of his appointment, Bill O'Chee, at 24, was the youngest person to be elected to the Parliament of Australia. He was also which of the following? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The League of Wheelmen (cyclists) met regularly at the tea rooms of merchant Quong Tart in King St, Sydney, in the 1890s.



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Because many explorers travelled round the Cape of Good Hope, the earliest recordings of foreign arrival on Australian soil, including that of the first documented Chinese immigrant, Moon Chow, are found in which Australian state?

Answer: Western Australia

It is believed that Dutch explorers found their way to the West Australian coast in the 1600s and settled there; Moon Chow is thought to have arrived in either 1828 or 1829. He was a boat builder and married a local woman named Mary Thorpe. He died in 1877 after being hit by a horse and cart.
2. What discovery brought large numbers of Chinese, along with prospectors of many other nations, to Australia in 1851?

Answer: Gold

Edward Hargraves, who had been in the California gold fields, submitted a sample of the mineral he found near the NSW town of Orange. Upon confirmation by the Colonial Geologist that it was indeed gold, Australia became the 'New Gold Mountain' - the name written in Chinese on the banknotes of the Commercial Bank of Australia.
3. After the coming of the British to Australia, land soon opened up for settlers. The majority of these were British, of course, but where did the Chinese rank in terms of settler numbers in the early 19th century?

Answer: Third

Apart from the English, the only country with more settlers in Australia than the Chinese was Germany. The Chinese began to arrive from 1793 onwards, until the mid-19th century.

Not all stayed, however - according to Australian government figures, between the mid- to late-1800s, 40,721 arrived from China, while 36,049 departed.
4. Aspirations of striking it rich brought large numbers of Chinese to the Victorian goldfields in Ballarat, from what British colony?

Answer: Hong Kong

Many of the arrivals from Hong Kong in the late 1850s were indentured to wealthy Chinese businessmen, and their families were essentially held hostage to ensure the return of the man and his booty.

A prominent board member of the Commercial Bank of Australia and prosperous business man, Lowe Kong Meng, had ships trading in both Chinese goods and passengers between Melbourne and Hong Kong in the 1860s.
5. The Chinese who emigrated to Australia struggled for many reasons, not the least of which was the language barrier. In Ballarat, Robert 'Chinese' Bell was unique amongst the locals in seeking to integrate the Chinese into the general population, by means of what ingenious initiative?

Answer: Bilingual newspaper

"The English and Chinese Advertiser" was certainly the first bilingual newspaper in Australia. Bell helped the Chinese to educate themselves in understanding English numbers, among other things. However, the paper also gave information in both languages on government matters and local businesses and promoted cross-cultural integration. Sadly, once Bell was appointed the official government interpreter, the initiative lapsed and any understanding that had grown between the communities waned.
6. To escape the landing tax imposed by the Victorian government, many Chinese coming to find their fortune in the Victorian goldfields found a warm welcome by landing instead at what South Australian seaport?

Answer: Robe

After the long trip to Australia, the Chinese then had to trek the 400-odd kilometers to the goldfields (depending on which route they took). It is estimated that around 16,000 people passed through Robe for that purpose. Some decided to stay in Robe to provide support for the trekkers, while others, weary of the travel and finding suitable soil along the way, put down roots and became market gardeners.

Many married locally and became part of the community. This has meant that much of the Chinese heritage has become absorbed into the general population.
7. One aspect of Chinese culture that enabled the Chinese to cope much better in the harsh conditions prevalent in Australia was that they formed working collectives, unlike most other immigrant groups, who tended to work as individuals. By what name did these groups of Chinese become known, a name familiar in most large cities across the world?

Answer: Chinatown

Perversely, in the early years, the Chinese were criticised for forming enclaves, but were paradoxically forced to live in camps outside towns. They set up shops selling vegetables and other goods, laundries, eateries and other businesses (including opium dens) to support their communities. Eventually these were patronised by the general (non-Chinese) community, and many grew into the type of Chinatowns that we know today - mostly restaurants, but the occasional Chinese grocery or other business.
8. What Australian government policy, introduced in 1901, meant that Chinese (and other) immigration was greatly reduced?

Answer: White Australia policy

This policy was rescinded many years later and Australia is now one of the most multi-cultural countries in the world. However, during this period, exceptions were made for chefs. In the Chinese community, this resulted in an influx of 'cooks' who happened also to be family members entering the country under a different name.

Historically, it is noted that by the mid 20th century, Chinese restaurants had opened in every city and many country towns. As a child in the 60s, I remember that the only local restaurant was Chinese; when travelling, it was always for possible to get a meal at the pub, or the local 'Chinese'.
9. At the time of his appointment, Bill O'Chee, at 24, was the youngest person to be elected to the Parliament of Australia. He was also which of the following?

Answer: First ethnic-Chinese to serve as a parliamentarian

O'Chee was born in Brisbane, Queensland, of a Chinese father and Irish/Australian mother. He has a long list of achievements, including being a councillor of the Scouting movement; he represented Australia in the sport of skeleton (a winter sport), and coached numerous teams in rowing.
10. The League of Wheelmen (cyclists) met regularly at the tea rooms of merchant Quong Tart in King St, Sydney, in the 1890s.

Answer: True

Mei Quong Tart was the starter of the races of the League of Wheelmen, who participated in the newly introduced sport of cycling. Coming from Guangdong province, he had arrived in Australia soon after the Gold Rush, and was an extremely successful businessman.

He was considered the acting Consul for China in a time when there was no official representation. Interestingly, he was taken in by a family of Scots, and was known for his Scottish accent. His descendants still live in Australia.
Source: Author VegemiteKid

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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