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Melbourne Chinese Empire Reform Association picnics

Details

Picnic parties were a popular Victorian pastime. They were elaborate affairs that would consist of up to a few hundred people who travelled in procession, often led by a band.

The Chinese Empire Reform Association held picnics as early as 1905 till at least 1911 on an annual basis in mid-February. In 1910 a procession of a dozen large drags, motors cars and buggies transported about three hundred Chinese to Mentone. Bunting and flags fluttered from the vehicles. Other picnics were held Aspendale Park, Mornington and Mordialloc. As well as a social event with food and novelty races there were also speeches on political matter in both China and Australia.

In 1910 N.P. Noong Nam (probably P.N. Hoong Nam) spoke in both English and Chinese about the anti-opium society and opium reform, H. Pang (probably Harry Louey Pang) proposed a toast and the Reverend Cheok Hong Cheong spoke on the strength of China.

Sources used to compile this entry: Brown-May, Andrew, Melbourne Street Life: The Itinerary of Our Days, Australian Scholarly/Arcadia and Museum Victoria, 1998; Couchman, Sophie, 'Tong Yun Gai (Street of the Chinese): Investigating patterns of work and social life in Melbourne's Chinatown 1900-1920', MA thesis, School of Historical Studies, Monash University, 2001.

Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University

Published Resources

Books

  • Brown-May, Andrew, Melbourne Street Life: The Itinerary of Our Days, Australian Scholarly/Arcadia and Museum Victoria, 1998. Details

Theses

  • Couchman, Sophie, 'Tong Yun Gai (Street of the Chinese): Investigating patterns of work and social life in Melbourne's Chinatown 1900-1920', MA thesis, School of Historical Studies, Monash University, 2001. Details

See also

  • 'Chinese Empire Reform Picnic at Aspendale Park [includes photograph]', Chinese Times supplement, 24 [25] February 1905. Details
  • 'The Chinese Picnic at Aspendale Park [includes photographs]', The Leader, 18 February, p. 36. Details

Images

Title
Collection of pictures from a picnic in Aspendale Park
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 7 February 1905 - c. 18 February 1905
Place
Australia - Victoria - Melbourne - Aspendale
Details
Title
Picnic of the Chinese Empire Reform Association at Oakleigh Park
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 1906
Place
Australia - Victoria - Melbourne
Details

Created: 10 May 2001, Last modified: 24 October 2005