Our Story: Chinese Aboriginal Connections in Australia
Second Stop: Xiamen Art Museum
27 June – 25 July 2026

Opening Ceremony: Saturday, 27 June 2026, 10:00 AM

Xiamen Art Museum will present Our Story: Chinese Aboriginal Connections in Australia from 27 June to 25 July 2026. This landmark exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive exploration to date of the little-known historical connections between Aboriginal Australians and nineteenth-century Chinese migrants.

Co-presented by the Chinese Museum Australia and the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou, the exhibition examines a significant yet often overlooked chapter of Australian history through research, storytelling, and cultural dialogue.

Following its successful presentation at the National Museum of Australia in 2025, this exhibition continues its China tour with Xiamen as its second destination. We extend our sincere thanks to Xiamen Art Museum for its support in bringing this important exhibition to local audiences.

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Our Story launched its first tour in China

26 April 2026 – 28 May 2026

Guangzhou Library China

Historic Exhibition "Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia" opens in China Following its display at the National Museum of Australia, Our Story launched its first tour in China on April 26, opening at the Guangzhou Library.

This exhibition holds great significance and lasting impact. Family representatives Valerie May Craigie, Lynette Yu-Mackay and Barbara ·Ann·Peek, and exhibition curator Zhou Xiaoping were invited to attend the opening ceremony. 

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A part of our exhibition in China was “Tracing Our Roots”. This initiative aimed to further explore the historical context through on-site visits and research, as well as to search for possible family connections within Guangdong. For the Aboriginal family members, traveling on this land carries extraordinary significance, as it was once the homeland of their ancestors. 

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Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia. Thanks to the Consulate-General of Australia in Guangzhou, the Museum of Chinese Australian History and the Guangzhou Library, for bringing this important exhibition to life.

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Trailblazing exhibition explores the untold story of Aboriginal-Chinese Australia Our Story launches in Canberra

10 April 2025 – 27 January 2026

National Museum of Australia 

Free Entry

The National Museum of Australia proudly presents Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia, a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the deep-rooted connections between two of the world’s oldest cultures. This compelling exhibition sheds light on the long-overlooked history of Aboriginal and Chinese interactions in Australia, from the gold rushes of the 1850s to today.

A Journey Through History and Identity

Conceived and curated by artist and researcher Zhou Xiaoping, Our Story brings together contemporary artworks, personal accounts, oral histories, historical photographs, and archival documents. Featuring works from eight contemporary artists of Aboriginal and Chinese descent, the exhibition offers an intimate exploration of cultural heritage, identity, and self-discovery.

National Museum Deputy Director First Nations, Dr. Jilda Andrews, describes Our Story as a powerful testament to Australia’s complex history:

“This exhibition shines a light on an unacknowledged chapter of Australian history, celebrating the resilience and shared heritage of Aboriginal-Chinese people.”

Artistic Reflections on Cultural Heritage

Our Story features 17 contemporary artworks alongside more than 30 archival photographs and documents. The exhibition showcases the work of seven Aboriginal-Chinese artists and one Chinese-Australian artist, each offering a unique perspective on representation, heritage, and the foundations of Australia’s multicultural society.

Renowned artist Jason Wing, whose work is featured in the exhibition, reflects on his heritage:

“I am very proud and privileged to have both ancient Dragon and Serpent blood. This exhibition is an opportunity to share our stories, celebrate our cultural connections, and educate others about this remarkable cross-cultural history.”

A National Conversation on Identity

Senior Curatorial Advisor Margo Ngawa Neale sees Our Story as an essential act of truth-telling:

“This is a reclamation story—Aboriginal-Chinese families are finally able to celebrate and share their unique histories. This exhibition is a powerful coming-out moment.”

Through interviews, family archives, and artistic expression, Our Story permanently embeds the history of Aboriginal-Chinese people into the collective consciousness of the Australian public.

Don’t miss this pioneering exhibition that brings to life the intertwined histories of Aboriginal and Chinese Australians. Plan your visit today and be part of this important national conversation.

Download the media release

Media contact: Diana Streak - [email protected] or 0409 888 976

Our Story began with two years of research, documentation and analyses of the rich and complex interaction between descendants of two of the world’s oldest civilisations – an intersection overlooked in the dominant White Australian discourse on the history of outside contacts with First Nations Peoples.

The research undertaken by a team of academic researchers nationwide, forms the largest body of work on this subject and will broaden the collective consciousness of who we are as a society.

This ground-breaking research will lead to a unique exhibition that portrays a new branch of Australian history.

This project is sponsored by: