Published on Friday, 5 December 2025 at 8:52:37 AM
For generations, Chinese families have helped shape the identity and spirit of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, contributing to local businesses, family traditions and strong community connections. Now, those stories are being brought into the spotlight as part of a major exhibition celebrating Chinese history across Western Australia.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Heritage Services team is inviting residents of Chinese heritage to help tell our region’s chapter of this remarkable story.
The exhibition has been developed as part of the Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia Project, coordinated by researchers from the University of Western Australia, including Dr Yu Tao, Professor Benjamin Smith, and Project Officer Lucy Hair. Building on earlier research into WA’s Chinese history by Dr Anne Atkinson, the project is funded by UWA and the Australian Government’s National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
Opening in April 2026 at the Boulder Town Hall, Making Home Under Southern Skies: Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia, will trace the settlement, contributions, and cultural legacy of Chinese communities across the State, from Perth and Broome to Albany and the Goldfields.
It will showcase photographs, artefacts, and stories that highlight the role Chinese people have played in shaping Western Australia’s history.
Bringing history to life
Mayor Glenn Wilson said the exhibition aims to authentically represent the lives of Chinese families who lived, worked and built a future in the region.
“The Goldfields story has always been diverse. We want to tell stories of the families who have been here for generations - the small businesses, the community leaders, the parents who made this place home.”
“This is an opportunity to acknowledge their legacy and ensure it is preserved for future generations.”
“We hope community members will contribute what they can, so the full story of Chinese life in the Goldfields can be told,” he said.
Help us tell the whole story
To ensure Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s unique chapter is told, we are seeking contributions from local families. Do you have any of the following?
- Family photographs or film: weddings, New Year celebrations, businesses, work sites, and community gatherings.
- Cultural objects: clothing, decorations and traditional items that connect to your heritage.
- Historical artefacts: tools, letters, business documents, or signage that tell a story of work and enterprise.
- Personal memories: written accounts, oral histories, and everyday stories of life in the Goldfields.
All items will be carefully documented, securely stored and displayed and returned to their owners once the exhibition ends.
Be part of living history
The narrative of the Goldfields is one of grit and gold, but it is also a story of the diverse communities that built their lives here. By sharing your story, you help to complete that picture.
“History is not just something found in archives - it is held in family albums, lived experiences and the objects people treasure. We hope locals can help us recognise and bring these valued stories to life as part of this special exhibition,” said Mayor Wilson.
How to contribute
If you would like to lend items or share your story, please contact the City’s Heritage Services team by email at mailbag@ckb.wa.gov.au or by calling 9021 9817. You can also visit us at the Boulder Town Hall during opening hours (10am–4pm weekdays, 9am–1pm Saturdays).
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