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Chinese Victims of Buckland RiotPrint Page 
The monument commemorates the Chinese settlers who were killed in the Buckland Riot in July 1857. The precise number of fatalities is unknown.
The large community of Chinese (it was estimated to number 3000 at its peak in 1857) led to an anti-Chinese riot. Chinese fled from the area and Robert O`Hara Burke (of Burke and Wills fame), who was working as a policeman at Beechworth, was sent to the diggings to restore order. As the easy gold disappeared the town moved firstly to reef mining and later to dredging until by the early years of the twentieth century it had outlived its usefulness. The village was eventually removed.
This significant race riot has been compared to the Eureka Stockade uprising in size and intensity. Over 750 miner’s tents were destroyed, stores belonging to the Chinese were burnt down and looted and the newly erected Chinese Temple “Joss House” was reduced to ashes. Many details of this event are still debated as court records have mysteriously disappeared from the Beechworth Court House.
Location
| Address: | Buckland Valley Road, Buckland Cemetery, Buckland, 3740 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.824756 Long: 146.852134 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Tragedy |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 04-July-1857 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 04-July-1857 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 9th November, 2008 |
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[ Inscription in Mandarin ]
This memorial was erected on 9th November 2008 by The See Yup Society of Victoria to the memory of our early Chinese settlers who were killed in the unfortunate Buckland Riot of July 4th 1857.
It is to commemorate their energy, travails, courage and their sacrifices in paving the way for future generations of Australian Chinese.
It is hoped that these future generations will remember them fondly with pride and respect.
