History through Chinese-Australian voices

The University of Sydney China Studies Centre and the museum co-presented the launch of the book, which "opens a new window onto Australian history by foregrounding Chinese-language sources as a lens through which to reinterpret the nation's past", according to event organizers.

The museum, located in Sydney's historic Chinatown area, itself opened during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February this year, with exhibitions showcasing the journey of Chinese Australians over two centuries.

By 2021, people of Chinese descent made up 5.5 percent of the Australian population, making them the country's fifth-largest ancestry group, according to census figures.

Also, by June 2024, there were about 700,000 Chinese-born people living in Australia, making the Chinese-born population one of the nation's largest migrant communities, according to government statistics.

Kam Louie, honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong and the University of New South Wales, helped launch Sinophone Australia, saying that until very recently, "there was little interest in the history of various migrant groups in Australia".