Gum San Heritage Centre Ararat

Gum San translates as Gold Mountain and the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre is literally sitting on the site of the “Gold Mountain” that started Arara’s gold rush.

The Centre tells the story of the 19th century Chinese miners that braved a perilous sea journey followed by a long trek across southern Australia to the new goldfields of Bendigo and Ballarat.

Life size scenarios in the centre depict their travels and experiences of the excitement of gold discoveries mixed with the hardship of life on the goldfields plus the prejudices and hatred from other nationalities that sometimes erupted in to riots.

Along the way they discovered gold in a creek near their camp. After the gold petered out and the bulk of miners moved on to goldfields in other areas and overseas, some of the more enterprising Chinese who had created market gardens and opened stores to supply the miners, travellers and a growing surrounding population, decided to stay on.

Thus Ararat was born and became to be known as the only town in Australia to be founded by the Chinese!

What is the spirit behind the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre?

We bring to life the 19th century story of the struggle of the immigrant Chinese miners and their difficulties on the Victorian Goldfields.

We show the influence of Chinese culture on the economic, cultural and social development of Australia.

We adhere to many of the Chinese customs and superstitions, inherently designed into the building.

We revel in being the birthplace of Civil Rights for Chinese in this country.

We offer a glimpse into Australian history, and its intersection with Chinese culture.

We recreate the social, environmental and political situation of the time.

We are Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre.