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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside the Chinatown museum that after four years and millions of dollars never opened
But as the institution enters its fourth year of a five-year lease with little progress made, impatience is brewing in some parts of the Chinatown community over the extensive delays. So why hasn't the Museum of Chinese in Australia opened yet? History in the making Sydney's Chinatown is one of Australia's best-known and most frequented, with roots tracing back to the 1870s, when Chinese migrants shifted their fruit and vegetable trading from the Rocks to settle around Haymarket. Chinese people began arriving in Australia as part of the massive migration wave during the gold rush of the 1850s. During the 1900s, they spread into other trades and services, finding prosperity in fruit and vegetable trading, shopkeeping, tobacco farming and clothes laundering. The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 brought another wave of migrants. But unlike Melbourne and regional cities such as Bendigo (which established its Golden Dragon Museum in 1991) and Ararat (which opened its Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in 2001), Sydney has fallen behind in establishing its own museum to showcase the contributions of Chinese Australians. That looked to finally change in mid-2020. As the pandemic set in, Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the council would lease the property to the Museum of Chinese in Australia. It would feature a gallery and exhibition space, programming activities, community spaces for events, an artist-in-residence program, and a cafe and shop. It is chaired by 82-year-old Daphne Lowe Kelly, who has spent most of her career serving Chinese-Australian organisations, and was presided over by Dr John Yu, a Chinese-born Australian paediatrician and 1996 Australian of the Year. But neither the council nor the museum's leadership anticipated the challenges of establishing a new gallery in a heritage-listed 19th-century building. While the site has given the museum a spiritual and physical home, with rent subsidised by the council, the lease agreement contains pages of added requirements, heritage restrictions and red tape. 'This is an amazing gift,' new MOCA chief executive Peter Cai said of the building. 'And it came with a lot of conditions, and some conditions are not easy to address. There are a lot of costs to remedy.' The initial renovation proposal, overseen by Tony Stephens, the previous chief executive who departed the organisation in January, came to roughly $4.7 million, said Kelly, who estimates the true cost would have been closer to $6 million or $7 million after factoring in contingencies and other unanticipated expenses. Figures from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show revenue from donations and bequests came to $1,766,821 in the four years between fiscal 2021 and 2024. This figure doesn't include rent subsidies from the City of Sydney's accommodation grant program, $2.28 million from Create NSW given in 2022, or two grants from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations that exceeded $400,000. In the absence of local donations, lobbying government has been crucial. 'It was almost impossible trying to raise any funds during COVID,' Kelly said. 'People are now questioning many things' A number of departures on the museum's board has added to perceptions of volatility. Only three inaugural board members remain: Kelly, Joanna Capon and Yin Cao. Dr John Yu, Stephen FitzGerald and Su-Ming Wong have departed the board. Since then, a number of others have come and gone. Loading One former director, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters freely, said board members had at times disagreed on the best approach to raising money. 'It's become a fundraising issue. They need a certain amount of money to open. They haven't been able to achieve that yet,' they said. Despite being volunteers for the charity, the former board member described the work as a 'full-time job'. 'It was very intense,' they said. 'I found myself spending a lot of time on the wrong things. 'While I've stepped off the board, I'm still a big supporter and would love to see it open.' An active representative of the Chinatown community, who declined to be named, said the museum had lost a lot of the goodwill it initially had. 'Because it's been years, people are losing interest or faith,' they said. 'People are now questioning many things; where has [the money] gone, how has it been spent?' The same Chinatown community representative feels the museum has had little to show. 'If you can't fix the building with the money you have, what are you delivering in the meantime?' they asked. 'They're not engaging in the community at all.' Kelly is aware of the critiques. 'They don't really know what goes behind the scenes, what has to be actually done, and how difficult it is to achieve a lot of what it takes to actually get it open,' she said. Putting on a show Plans are now being redrawn for a 'reduced scope' refurbishment. Even then, Kelly estimates opening will cost $3 million to $4 million. 'That's still a lot of money,' she said. 'You've got to remember, we also need to have funds for the programs and operational costs.' The race is on to pull the various pieces together for a soft launch. On top of refurbishment plans to be redrawn, costed and commenced, an exhibition director (historian and Chinese art and photography curator Shuxia Chen) has been drafted to conceptualise the museum's first exhibition, which will focus on local stories about Haymarket habitants that have been there for generations, such as the Lam family of Asian grocer Dong Nam A, or the Pang family, which ran a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket for nearly three decades and have donated large sums to the museum. 'We must put on a good show for people,' Cai said. Decisions need to be made about the exhibition's budget. 'You're talking about special lighting, casings, you have to hire expert consultants to put it all together. It's not as easy as hanging something on a wall.' Meanwhile, Kelly is hustling for donations, having visited Canberra to lobby Wong and Plibersek, and sharing bank details in community newsletters. 'I've been lobbied about this so much,' Wong said at the April event. The museum has secured its tenancy for another decade, which Kelly hopes will help to encourage donations after hearing feedback that some felt reluctant to donate money for a building that belongs to the council. 'A refit is not as sexy to the philanthropic community,' said another former board member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'We spoke to a lot of other Chinese museums around the world ... The Chinese Canadian Museum took eight years to get running from conceptualisation to open doors. It just takes a little while.' Cai is excited to showcase the many contributions of Chinese Australians over the decades and is at pains to convey the 'complicated nature' of the project to supporters, whom he said had been generous and full of goodwill. 'I can empathise with some of our supporters who just want to see the building open soon,' he said. 'I want as much as I can to speed things up.'
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Inside the Chinatown museum that after four years and millions of dollars never opened
But as the institution enters its fourth year of a five-year lease with little progress made, impatience is brewing in some parts of the Chinatown community over the extensive delays. So why hasn't the Museum of Chinese in Australia opened yet? History in the making Sydney's Chinatown is one of Australia's best-known and most frequented, with roots tracing back to the 1870s, when Chinese migrants shifted their fruit and vegetable trading from the Rocks to settle around Haymarket. Chinese people began arriving in Australia as part of the massive migration wave during the gold rush of the 1850s. During the 1900s, they spread into other trades and services, finding prosperity in fruit and vegetable trading, shopkeeping, tobacco farming and clothes laundering. The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 brought another wave of migrants. But unlike Melbourne and regional cities such as Bendigo (which established its Golden Dragon Museum in 1991) and Ararat (which opened its Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in 2001), Sydney has fallen behind in establishing its own museum to showcase the contributions of Chinese Australians. That looked to finally change in mid-2020. As the pandemic set in, Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the council would lease the property to the Museum of Chinese in Australia. It would feature a gallery and exhibition space, programming activities, community spaces for events, an artist-in-residence program, and a cafe and shop. It is chaired by 82-year-old Daphne Lowe Kelly, who has spent most of her career serving Chinese-Australian organisations, and was presided over by Dr John Yu, a Chinese-born Australian paediatrician and 1996 Australian of the Year. But neither the council nor the museum's leadership anticipated the challenges of establishing a new gallery in a heritage-listed 19th-century building. While the site has given the museum a spiritual and physical home, with rent subsidised by the council, the lease agreement contains pages of added requirements, heritage restrictions and red tape. 'This is an amazing gift,' new MOCA chief executive Peter Cai said of the building. 'And it came with a lot of conditions, and some conditions are not easy to address. There are a lot of costs to remedy.' The initial renovation proposal, overseen by Tony Stephens, the previous chief executive who departed the organisation in January, came to roughly $4.7 million, said Kelly, who estimates the true cost would have been closer to $6 million or $7 million after factoring in contingencies and other unanticipated expenses. Figures from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show revenue from donations and bequests came to $1,766,821 in the four years between fiscal 2021 and 2024. This figure doesn't include rent subsidies from the City of Sydney's accommodation grant program, $2.28 million from Create NSW given in 2022, or two grants from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations that exceeded $400,000. In the absence of local donations, lobbying government has been crucial. 'It was almost impossible trying to raise any funds during COVID,' Kelly said. 'People are now questioning many things' A number of departures on the museum's board has added to perceptions of volatility. Only three inaugural board members remain: Kelly, Joanna Capon and Yin Cao. Dr John Yu, Stephen FitzGerald and Su-Ming Wong have departed the board. Since then, a number of others have come and gone. Loading One former director, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters freely, said board members had at times disagreed on the best approach to raising money. 'It's become a fundraising issue. They need a certain amount of money to open. They haven't been able to achieve that yet,' they said. Despite being volunteers for the charity, the former board member described the work as a 'full-time job'. 'It was very intense,' they said. 'I found myself spending a lot of time on the wrong things. 'While I've stepped off the board, I'm still a big supporter and would love to see it open.' An active representative of the Chinatown community, who declined to be named, said the museum had lost a lot of the goodwill it initially had. 'Because it's been years, people are losing interest or faith,' they said. 'People are now questioning many things; where has [the money] gone, how has it been spent?' The same Chinatown community representative feels the museum has had little to show. 'If you can't fix the building with the money you have, what are you delivering in the meantime?' they asked. 'They're not engaging in the community at all.' Kelly is aware of the critiques. 'They don't really know what goes behind the scenes, what has to be actually done, and how difficult it is to achieve a lot of what it takes to actually get it open,' she said. Putting on a show Plans are now being redrawn for a 'reduced scope' refurbishment. Even then, Kelly estimates opening will cost $3 million to $4 million. 'That's still a lot of money,' she said. 'You've got to remember, we also need to have funds for the programs and operational costs.' The race is on to pull the various pieces together for a soft launch. On top of refurbishment plans to be redrawn, costed and commenced, an exhibition director (historian and Chinese art and photography curator Shuxia Chen) has been drafted to conceptualise the museum's first exhibition, which will focus on local stories about Haymarket habitants that have been there for generations, such as the Lam family of Asian grocer Dong Nam A, or the Pang family, which ran a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket for nearly three decades and have donated large sums to the museum. 'We must put on a good show for people,' Cai said. Decisions need to be made about the exhibition's budget. 'You're talking about special lighting, casings, you have to hire expert consultants to put it all together. It's not as easy as hanging something on a wall.' Meanwhile, Kelly is hustling for donations, having visited Canberra to lobby Wong and Plibersek, and sharing bank details in community newsletters. 'I've been lobbied about this so much,' Wong said at the April event. The museum has secured its tenancy for another decade, which Kelly hopes will help to encourage donations after hearing feedback that some felt reluctant to donate money for a building that belongs to the council. 'A refit is not as sexy to the philanthropic community,' said another former board member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'We spoke to a lot of other Chinese museums around the world ... The Chinese Canadian Museum took eight years to get running from conceptualisation to open doors. It just takes a little while.' Cai is excited to showcase the many contributions of Chinese Australians over the decades and is at pains to convey the 'complicated nature' of the project to supporters, whom he said had been generous and full of goodwill. 'I can empathise with some of our supporters who just want to see the building open soon,' he said. 'I want as much as I can to speed things up.'
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Libs admit Chinese diaspora failings on listening tour
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has met Chinese community and business leaders as the Liberals work to rebuild trust with a demographic that largely abandoned the party at the federal election. Ms Ley said she heard examples of racism and hatred that plagued the community that "made us very angry and very distressed". "We didn't get everything right at the last election and I made it clear that I wanted a valuable, ongoing conversation," she told reporters after Monday's meeting in northwest Sydney, admitting the party struck the wrong cord with the diaspora. "Protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre." Ms Ley didn't answer whether an apology was issued for comments made during the election campaign by a senior Liberal senator about potential "Chinese spies" being embedded in Labor's campaign. It followed media reports alleging Chinese Communist Party-linked volunteers were helping Labor during the May election campaign. "I'm not going to go into the private discussions that we had today, but I am going to say that I freely admit that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course," Ms Ley said. Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Chinese Australians raised concerns about being able to contribute to their community. "That was a very strong message that came through the valuing of communities, so those issues will very much be front and centre when we consider policies going forward," he said. Parramatta Labor councillor Michael Ng said the Liberal Party lost the trust of the Chinese community due to its harsh rhetoric and lack of action to protect the diaspora. Cr Ng wasn't at the roundtable but said he had heard concerns from Chinese Australians about their disappointment in the Liberal Party and some of that went back to how they were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When it comes to election time, they try to say 'we support you', but when you look at the shadow ministers, their rhetoric doesn't support that," he told AAP. An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform WeChat carried out by Australian-Chinese Relations Institute deputy director Wanning Sun found the Liberals lost the trust of Chinese voters, pointing to hawkish language by shadow ministers against China. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has met Chinese community and business leaders as the Liberals work to rebuild trust with a demographic that largely abandoned the party at the federal election. Ms Ley said she heard examples of racism and hatred that plagued the community that "made us very angry and very distressed". "We didn't get everything right at the last election and I made it clear that I wanted a valuable, ongoing conversation," she told reporters after Monday's meeting in northwest Sydney, admitting the party struck the wrong cord with the diaspora. "Protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre." Ms Ley didn't answer whether an apology was issued for comments made during the election campaign by a senior Liberal senator about potential "Chinese spies" being embedded in Labor's campaign. It followed media reports alleging Chinese Communist Party-linked volunteers were helping Labor during the May election campaign. "I'm not going to go into the private discussions that we had today, but I am going to say that I freely admit that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course," Ms Ley said. Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Chinese Australians raised concerns about being able to contribute to their community. "That was a very strong message that came through the valuing of communities, so those issues will very much be front and centre when we consider policies going forward," he said. Parramatta Labor councillor Michael Ng said the Liberal Party lost the trust of the Chinese community due to its harsh rhetoric and lack of action to protect the diaspora. Cr Ng wasn't at the roundtable but said he had heard concerns from Chinese Australians about their disappointment in the Liberal Party and some of that went back to how they were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When it comes to election time, they try to say 'we support you', but when you look at the shadow ministers, their rhetoric doesn't support that," he told AAP. An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform WeChat carried out by Australian-Chinese Relations Institute deputy director Wanning Sun found the Liberals lost the trust of Chinese voters, pointing to hawkish language by shadow ministers against China. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has met Chinese community and business leaders as the Liberals work to rebuild trust with a demographic that largely abandoned the party at the federal election. Ms Ley said she heard examples of racism and hatred that plagued the community that "made us very angry and very distressed". "We didn't get everything right at the last election and I made it clear that I wanted a valuable, ongoing conversation," she told reporters after Monday's meeting in northwest Sydney, admitting the party struck the wrong cord with the diaspora. "Protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre." Ms Ley didn't answer whether an apology was issued for comments made during the election campaign by a senior Liberal senator about potential "Chinese spies" being embedded in Labor's campaign. It followed media reports alleging Chinese Communist Party-linked volunteers were helping Labor during the May election campaign. "I'm not going to go into the private discussions that we had today, but I am going to say that I freely admit that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course," Ms Ley said. Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Chinese Australians raised concerns about being able to contribute to their community. "That was a very strong message that came through the valuing of communities, so those issues will very much be front and centre when we consider policies going forward," he said. Parramatta Labor councillor Michael Ng said the Liberal Party lost the trust of the Chinese community due to its harsh rhetoric and lack of action to protect the diaspora. Cr Ng wasn't at the roundtable but said he had heard concerns from Chinese Australians about their disappointment in the Liberal Party and some of that went back to how they were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When it comes to election time, they try to say 'we support you', but when you look at the shadow ministers, their rhetoric doesn't support that," he told AAP. An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform WeChat carried out by Australian-Chinese Relations Institute deputy director Wanning Sun found the Liberals lost the trust of Chinese voters, pointing to hawkish language by shadow ministers against China. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has met Chinese community and business leaders as the Liberals work to rebuild trust with a demographic that largely abandoned the party at the federal election. Ms Ley said she heard examples of racism and hatred that plagued the community that "made us very angry and very distressed". "We didn't get everything right at the last election and I made it clear that I wanted a valuable, ongoing conversation," she told reporters after Monday's meeting in northwest Sydney, admitting the party struck the wrong cord with the diaspora. "Protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre." Ms Ley didn't answer whether an apology was issued for comments made during the election campaign by a senior Liberal senator about potential "Chinese spies" being embedded in Labor's campaign. It followed media reports alleging Chinese Communist Party-linked volunteers were helping Labor during the May election campaign. "I'm not going to go into the private discussions that we had today, but I am going to say that I freely admit that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course," Ms Ley said. Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Chinese Australians raised concerns about being able to contribute to their community. "That was a very strong message that came through the valuing of communities, so those issues will very much be front and centre when we consider policies going forward," he said. Parramatta Labor councillor Michael Ng said the Liberal Party lost the trust of the Chinese community due to its harsh rhetoric and lack of action to protect the diaspora. Cr Ng wasn't at the roundtable but said he had heard concerns from Chinese Australians about their disappointment in the Liberal Party and some of that went back to how they were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When it comes to election time, they try to say 'we support you', but when you look at the shadow ministers, their rhetoric doesn't support that," he told AAP. An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform WeChat carried out by Australian-Chinese Relations Institute deputy director Wanning Sun found the Liberals lost the trust of Chinese voters, pointing to hawkish language by shadow ministers against China.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Libs admit Chinese diaspora failings on listening tour
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has met Chinese community and business leaders as the Liberals work to rebuild trust with a demographic that largely abandoned the party at the federal election. Ms Ley said she heard examples of racism and hatred that plagued the community that "made us very angry and very distressed". "We didn't get everything right at the last election and I made it clear that I wanted a valuable, ongoing conversation," she told reporters after Monday's meeting in northwest Sydney, admitting the party struck the wrong cord with the diaspora. "Protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre." Ms Ley didn't answer whether an apology was issued for comments made during the election campaign by a senior Liberal senator about potential "Chinese spies" being embedded in Labor's campaign. It followed media reports alleging Chinese Communist Party-linked volunteers were helping Labor during the May election campaign. "I'm not going to go into the private discussions that we had today, but I am going to say that I freely admit that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course," Ms Ley said. Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Chinese Australians raised concerns about being able to contribute to their community. "That was a very strong message that came through the valuing of communities, so those issues will very much be front and centre when we consider policies going forward," he said. Parramatta Labor councillor Michael Ng said the Liberal Party lost the trust of the Chinese community due to its harsh rhetoric and lack of action to protect the diaspora. Cr Ng wasn't at the roundtable but said he had heard concerns from Chinese Australians about their disappointment in the Liberal Party and some of that went back to how they were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When it comes to election time, they try to say 'we support you', but when you look at the shadow ministers, their rhetoric doesn't support that," he told AAP. An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform WeChat carried out by Australian-Chinese Relations Institute deputy director Wanning Sun found the Liberals lost the trust of Chinese voters, pointing to hawkish language by shadow ministers against China.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- ABC News
Chinese migrant allegedly assaulted by teenagers in Sydney's Eastgardens
NSW Police has charged two minors with assault after a Chinese woman and her husband were allegedly attacked by a group of teenagers in Sydney's east. Police said two 12-year-old girls were charged with assault and granted conditional bail to appear in a children's court next month. The charges followed the circulation of graphic footage of the alleged attack. Nearby residents in the suburb of Eastgardens filmed it and shared the footage on social media, drawing widespread condemnation — particularly from Chinese Australians. In the video, a woman is seen knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked by several people. A man who tries to intervene appears to be struck in the eyes, as a woman walking her dog also attempts to help. As the woman manages to sit up, she is kicked in the face before the group flees. The video went viral on social media, prompting calls for action and heightened concern among members of the Chinese community. The woman, a 42-year-old pharmaceutical worker who moved to Sydney from Shanghai last August, told the ABC she had been left feeling fearful and disillusioned. "I still believe that most people in this country are good, including many people who came forward to help me after I was attacked," she said. "But after the incident, I feel the life here is not safe, because you may be attacked without warning. This really took the shine off my impression of this country. "I hope all friends of Asian appearance, wherever they are, stay safe and look after themselves." The woman told the ABC she was searching a local park for a lost set of keys when a young boy suddenly approached and yelled an obscenity at her. She said moments later a group of teenagers gathered around her and her husband. When she challenged them for swearing, she says she was attacked from behind and dragged to the ground. "The process was so fast. I didn't really know who these people were, and I hadn't done anything to hurt them," she said. "My clothes were covering my eyes so I couldn't see who was kicking and punching me, but I could feel kicks and punches to my back, my head, my eyes and my arms and legs." It wasn't until she saw the footage that she realised how many people had been involved. After attending a nearby hospital, the woman was found to have extensive bruising, particularly on her back, as well as facial injuries, fractured fingers and impaired vision. The incident prompted others in Chinese-speaking communities to speak out about similar experiences in Sydney over recent months. "I can't guarantee it 100 per cent, but from what I've seen and heard so far, basically all the people who have been physically harmed in these cases are Chinese," the woman said. NSW Police declined to confirm if the Eastgardens attack was racially targeting Chinese people, as their investigation was ongoing. In a statement, China's consulate in Sydney described a number of recent attacks as "violent acts against ethnic Chinese and Chinese students". The consulate "firmly opposed and strongly condemn[ed]" the incidents, and urged Chinese nationals in Australia to stay alert, strengthen safety awareness, and avoid going out at night. The ABC has approached the Australian Human Rights Commission for comment. Read the story in Chinese: 阅读中文版
