From the 1850s, Chinese labourers were contracted
to work in the pastoral industry as shepherds, hutkeepers, shearers, and cooks.
Many soon put their gardening skills to work supplying fresh vegetables and
fruit. Within a few years most towns of any size boasted at least one Chinese garden.
The Chinese gardeners established their plots close to a water source, whether
a river, creek, or permanent waterhole.
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| Chinese Garden & Hut (State Library of South Australia) |
For many communities, these gardens were the only substantial source of quality fresh produce. Chinese producers soon came to dominate the vegetable markets.
Rockhampton
has its market reserve, but, like that in Brisbane, it is not much used, as the
vegetable market is almost entirely supplied by the Chinese gardeners, some of
whom adhere to their native custom of carrying everything slung on bamboos, or,
if wealthy enough, employ carts.
Their
gardens are well worth a visit, for even after the long drought, which only
terminated a few days after my arrival, they were one mass of green, and were
producing vegetables equal to any grown in localities more kindly favoured by
nature and climate.[1]
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| Chinese Gardener (National Museum of Australia) |
Some European settlers were impressed with the ability of the Chinese gardeners to create such productive small plots and studied their techniques.
Those
who may be interested in the matter of growing vegetables could not do better
than pay a visit to the Chinese garden, on Mr C. Lawson's property. The garden
has been worked for some time, and hence the whole system of management is now
apparent. At present the attention of the Celestials is specially directed to
the growing of lettuce, onions, and radishes, and the luxuriant manner in which
they are flourishing speaks volumes for the mode of treatment.
The
system they adopt is to grow vegetables in extremely narrow beds, just
sufficient to carry two rows. The ground is kept scrupulously clean, and
morning and morning and evening the plants are carefully trimmed of all dead
leaves, and a small quantity of liquid manure is deposited at the root of each
plant.
The
manure used is chiefly that obtained from pigstyes, and being carefully
stacked, until it presents the appearance of a dry compost, it is soaked in
water and carefully strained; all the insoluble particles are then thrown
away, and the liquid only applied to the plant. Onions are treated similarly,
and, in fact, more as exotics than vegetables.[2]
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| Chinese gardener at work (State Library of Queensland) |
The health benefits of fresh produce were quickly recognised especially to those suffering from “land scurvy”.
Usually associated with sailors on long sea
voyages, scurvy, a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, was also
widespread among isolated rural workers such as shepherds and hutkeepers. These
bushmen existed on basic rations of meat, flour, tea, and sugar.
One newspaper correspondent recommended that
pastoralists consider employing Chinese gardeners.
WE
have frequently felt it our duty to direct public attention to the miserable
existence that too many shepherds and hut keepers are forced to endure.
If
there was no other call for change than the terrible scourge of land scurvy
from which nearly all bushmen more or less suffer, this in itself would be
sufficient to show reason for an alteration in the present system.
This idea of employing a Chinaman to raise vegetables is novel, and deserves more than a passing consideration. The wonderful results obtained by the small party of Chinamen in Deniliquin prove beyond a doubt tho possibility of vegetables being raised in even the hottest weather.
Throughout
last summer their garden was a perfect oasis in the desert. The fresh green
patch where they grew their produce formed a wonderful contrast to the
surrounding brazen herbage, and only showed what can be done by knowledge and
perseverance.
The
Celestials have produced their luxuriant crops by enriching a poor soil with
sheep-dung and stable manure, and on all stations could be found a site for a
garden with more natural advantages than that possessed by the one above
described, when the Chinamen first leased the ground.[3]
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| Chinese Gardener & Cauliflower (State Library of NSW) |
The occupation of a Chinese gardener was not without its dangers, particularly on the goldfields. One particularly perilous experience was suffered by the Chinese at Crocodile Creek in 1867. This goldfield was south-west of Rockhampton and was the scene of a violent anti-Chinese riot. One eyewitness described the scene.
A
row between the Europeans and Chinese took place between half-post two and
three o'clock; he [eyewitness] was
at work in his claim when he heard a great noise and came up to see what it
was; he saw the Europeans chasing the Chinamen before them, and throwing stones
at them; it occurred at the spot known as the Chinaman's garden.
He
saw them treat the Chinamen cruelly by throwing stones at them; he interfered
telling them that they should not do so; he made one man drop a stone and the
mob threatened to stone him;
He
at this time saw Stone amongst the mob; after he left the mob he went into the
Chinaman's garden; the mob had opened out into two parties, one party went
towards Chinese-street which he might say was exclusively occupied by Chinese
and the other part, upon whom he kept his eyes remained at the garden, and also
went down the Creek; the mob at the garden set fire to the canvas and calico
tents, thatched with bush hay, belonging to the Chinese; the tents were burned.
The
mob were crying out "chase the bastards off, roll up, come out, burnt the
damned place down”.
Six men were later put on trial at Rockhampton.
Two were acquitted and four sentenced to 9 months in the Brisbane gaol.
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| Chinese gardeners on their plot. (State Library of South Australia) |
Despite occasional harassment the Chinese gardeners continued to ply their trade well into the 20th century.
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| Chinese garden with water lift, Gympie region ca. 1902 (State Library of Queensland) |
