The gold fields of Victoria in 1860’s were transient places, miners came from Europe, China and North America. Most diggers were there to find fortune to better their lives. The Chinese diggers were no exceptions. Many had family, and their wishes would be to return home village with wealth and fortune.
This is an analysis of the goldfield population, showing the size and family compositions of the Chinese miners. The population was almost entirely male. Beechworth (approx 3,500 Chinese) in 1867 had almost three times the population of Chinese miners than Ballarat, and twice the population of that in Bendigo.
Chinese mining in Guildford, near Castlemaine ca. 1861. Source: State Library of Victoria.
Across all the gold fields, roughly half of the population were married with wives in China. There were local variances, with Ballarat recording 65% of single and Bendigo recorded the reverse – more married miners than singles.
The survey in 1867 recorded some Chinese men marrying European women. These unions were rare in that era. There were 24 Chinese miners with European wives in Ballarat, 10 in Beechworth, 7 in Castlemaine and 6 in Bendigo. These family units had off springs, with 62, 15, 20 and 20 children recorded in the population survey.
Interactive graph. Zoom in to region, mouse over to see details.
The population was almost entirely male. Beechworth in 1867 has almost three times the population of Chinese miners than Ballarat, and twice the population of Bendigo. Overall, roughly half of the population were married with wives in China.
There were local variances, with Ballarat recording 65% of single and Bendigo recorded the reverse – more married miners than singles.
The survey in 1867 recorded some Chinese men marrying European women. These unions were rare in that era. There were 24 Chinese miners with European wives in Ballarat, 10 in Beechworth, 7 in Castlemaine and 6 in Bendigo. These family units had off springs, with 62, 15, 20 and 20 children recorded in the population survey.