This episode contains content on child abuse which may be disturbing to some listeners and is not appropriate for children. This episode is dedicated to Rachel Mon Sing.
Discover the rich history of the Chinese on the Ballarat Goldfields. Witness the disturbing story of the unscrupulous government-appointed headman, Hugh Ah Coon who lead his community as they were both integrated and held apart, tolerated and reviled.
The Chinese Camp – Ballarat
A typical Chinese Miner’s tent, Soverign Hill, Ballarat
A Chinese Vegetable Gardener, c. 1893
John Allo’s Chinese Restaurant, Ballarat – Sketch by S.T. Gill
Chinese Miners on their way to the Diggings
Chinese Quater – Ballarat
![Chinese justice at Chinkeetown, Ballarat [picture]. Richard Egan Lee, Melbourne, 1876. [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/167607525]](https://talesfromratcity.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/19650236_10154634202157124_527698445_o.jpg "19650236_10154634202157124_527698445_o")
Chinese justice at Chinkeetown, Ballarat [picture]. Richard Egan Lee, Melbourne, 1876. [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/167607525]
Ballarat Benevolent Asylum Fete – The Chinese Procession
Our amazing cast:
Julian Cheung – Aboo Mason
Xun Huang – Hugh Ah Coon
Lena Weng – Rachel Ah Coon
Collin Van Uden – Reporter
Jake Thompson – Investigator
Jessica Grace Netherway – Mrs Baker
Paul Michael Donovan – Governor Reports
Katrina Hill – Mrs Edwards
Vince Tseng – Chinese male
Vince Tseng – Chinese male
Tales from Rat City 
These stories are fabulous! Congratulations. I did a lot of research about the goldfields for my exhibition currently at the Art Gallery of Ballarat…my great great grandparents lived in the Buckland valley where James Handforth was a goldminer. The Buckland riots occurred on July the 4th 1857 (140 years ago in a few days) when of at least 9 Chinese men were bashed and killed and 40 of their huts were torched.
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Hi Liz,
That’s amazing. I was not aware of your exhibition, I’m looking forward to finding some time to check it out later this week! I’ll also schedule a post from our podcast’s Facebook site promoting it, as the overlap with the sorts of stories we are interested in (less heard voices such as women and the darker side of history) is great. Your research and exhibition both sound fascinating. If you’d be willing to have a chat about it with us sometime, please send me an email at talesfromratcity@gmail.com
Tom
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I throughly enjoyed listening to the interesting stories here!
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Found the story quite fascinating as I am a direct descendant of Aboo Mason. Job very well done.
Kind Regards,
Cameron Mason.
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Wow, Cameron! That’s incredible. Thanks for getting in touch. You may be aware but there is at least one photo of Aboo Mason and family we know of which you can find here: https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/immigrants-and-emigrants/many-roads-chinese-on-the-goldfields/diverse-activities/interpreters/abboo-mason/
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Thank you for this podcast. Rachel Mon Sing is my great great grandmother and from the small amount of research I have gathered, led a very sad and unfortunate life. Your information helps to paint the bigger picture of her story and of others during this time.
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Thank you for your dedication to Rachael Mon Sing. I found this pod cast by accident. Rachael Mon Sing is my great grand mother.
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Wonderful. I found her story to be such a profound tragedy.
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Hi Wendy, I am a David Ramsay descendant too. I have written a little about Rachael. She must have been a very talented lady, and yes a very tough life. I would be interested to talk to you
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