Gum San

Relive the journey to new gold mountain - visit Australia’s newest cultural experience

The $3.2 million dollar world class Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre is now open in Ararat. Ararat, near Victoria's Grampians was founded during the 1859 gold rush and is said to be the only town in Victoria founded by Chinese prospectors. To commemorate its origins, Ararat has paid tribute to its Chinese settlers by establishing the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre.

Building on the fascination of the Victorian goldrush of the 1850's, Gum San tells the incredible story of the Chinese immigrants who discovered one of the world's richest alluvial goldfields at Ararat.

Gum San (the name means "hill of gold") recreates the role of the people from Southern China in the discovery of gold and the establishment of Ararat. You'll be moved as you follow their journey of the Chinese prospectors from Southern China and their exhausting trek form Robe South Australia to the Victorian goldfields.

A true experience for visitors of all ages, the Centre provides an insight into the heritage of the Ararat goldfields and Chinese culture in Australia. Through a series of displays, exhibitions, audio and video experiences the visitor can gain a real sense of the struggles and successes of the early Chinese families in this new foreign land. You can learn about the art of feng shui, chart your own Chinese horoscope and try gold-panning and Chinese calligraphy. Extensive authentic artefact displays, Chinese dancing lions and costumes, an original Canton Lead mining tunnel uncovered during construction and multimedia children’s activities assure a rewarding experience for all.

The Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre is a unique, vibrant, innovative and exciting new cultural attraction. An authentic recreation of two storey Southern Chinese architecture, the Centre is a must see for all groups visiting Victoria’s historically rich Central West.

Imagine life during Ararat’s early beginnings and the excitement of the Chinese immigrants who discovered one of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfields.

The world class Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre tells the story of miners from Southern China and brings to life the social, environmental and political situations of immigrant miners in the mid 1800’s. Take your own journey and relive the experience of Chinese gold prospectors on their great trek from Robe, South Australia to the Victorian Goldfields.

The series of exhibition spaces, state of the art presentations and rotating displays of Chinese artefacts delivers a snapshot of the rich colour and history of the Chinese culture from the mid 1800’s to modern day. Discover the fun and delight of gold panning, listen to, view and relive the goldfields way of life. Try your hand at calligraphy, learn about the Chinese language and view the relics, life like sculptured characters and authentic artefacts including Chinese lions and costumes. Involve yourself in the language and story telling room and admire the mining tunnel uncovered during construction.

Inside and out the Gum San Chinese heritage Centre is rewarding and moving educational experience. There is a Chinese saying, "One generation builds the road, the next generation travels down it". With the help of the Gum San Chinese Centre our generation can travel down this road once again to see what it was like to find a hill of gold.

The GUM SAN Chinese Heritage Centre

A great adventure beyond the classroom!

The Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre delivers a vibrant, innovative and exciting new educational experience for students of all ages.

Set amongst traditional Chinese gardens and forecourt, the $3.2 million Centre is an authentic recreation of two storey Chinese architecture. It provides an interpretation of the journey of Chinese immigrants to Australia during the gold rush and their discovery of the Canton Lead at Ararat – Australia’s richest shallow alluvial goldfield.

The world class Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre explores the influence of the Chinese community on Australian history, society and culture. A great deal of effort has been made to ensure that the Centre’s education programs provide and deliver a quality educational experience for school and group visits.

A 12 minute audiovisual presentation in a custom built theatrette telling the story of Chinese immigration to Australia and the Victorian Goldfields.

Display area documenting the beginning of the journey from China to Australia and the great overland trek form Robe, SA.

Interactive exhibitions illustrating the plight and social context of the Chinese on the Ararat goldfields.

Areas set aside to discover the fun and delight of gold panning and fossicking techniques.

The ‘Courthouse’ room which may be used for story telling.

A Chinese language and calligraphy experimentation hut

Each group will be provided with the assistance of a volunteer tour guide specifically trained to enhance your learning experience. Full flexibility will be provided to meet your group requirements. The education programs consist of appropriate interactive and hands on activities especially designed to provide for the level and ability of each group. The programs have been based on the guidelines of the Victorian CSF II model and cover the following key learning areas:

SOSE
Explains the contribution made by different cultures to the growth of Australian society.

LOTE
The learning of another language which offers students the opportunity to gain direct insights into the culture or cultures which gives the language its life and meaning.

ARTS
Identifies and describes key features of art works from other cultures.

• The discovery of gold
• The establishment of Ararat – the only known Australian town to be discovered by Chinese
• Chinese influence on Australia’s economic, social and cultural development

Teachers Guide:
The Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre Teachers Guide is a set of comprehensive lesson plans suitable for CSFF Levels 1-6. The guide is a valuable learning aid in encouraging students to take an active interest in their learning experience. The lesson plans look at Chinese culture as well as topics covered in the Centre. They cover different Key Learning Aspects and are suitable for extension ideas and activities. The Teachers Guide ($20.00 per copy) is available for purchase at the Centre along with other valuable reference books.