When Chinese came in the 19th century they came with only men, when Vietnamese came in the 20th century they came with women and men

[MelaninWarlord]

That is an excellent point of distinction in Australian history. While the logic is similar to the American context, the specific Australian laws and the "White Australia" policy created a very unique—and often harsh—environment for these two groups.

You are right: the 19th-century Chinese arrivals were almost exclusively male, whereas the 20th-century Vietnamese arrivals were family units. Here is why that contrast exists in the Australian story.

1. The 19th Century: Chinese "Sojourners"
Between the 1850s and the late 1800s, tens of thousands of Chinese men came to Australia, primarily for the Gold Rushes in Victoria and New South Wales.

The "Sojourner" Model: Most were young men sent by their villages or clans to earn money and send it back (remittances). They did not intend to stay forever, so they didn't bring wives or children.

The "Bachelor Society": By 1861, there were roughly 38,000 Chinese people in Australia, but only a tiny fraction were women. In some mining districts, the ratio was as extreme as 1 woman for every 500+ men.

Hostile Legislation: Australian colonies passed "Anti-Chinese" laws (like the Chinese Immigration Restriction Act of 1861) specifically to make it expensive and difficult for Chinese people to enter. Later, the White Australia Policy (1901) made it nearly impossible for those who stayed to bring their wives over, as the government wanted to prevent a permanent Chinese-Australian population from growing.

2. The 20th Century: Vietnamese Families and Refugees
The arrival of the Vietnamese in the 1970s and 80s was a fundamentally different event. This wasn't a search for gold; it was an escape from war.

The End of White Australia: The Vietnamese were the first major group of Asian migrants to arrive after the White Australia Policy was fully abolished (1973). This meant the government was finally open to non-European permanent settlement.

Refugee Motivation: When the South Vietnamese government fell in 1975, people fled political persecution. Unlike the 19th-century miners, they weren't looking for a temporary job—they were looking for a new home. Families fled together on boats or were later reunited through the Orderly Departure Program.

Government Support: Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s government actively supported the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees. Because the goal was integration, the government prioritized keeping families together in migrant hostels (like Cabramatta in Sydney or Springvale in Melbourne).
Summary Comparison​

 

[MelaninWarlord]

This difference is why 19th-century Chinese history in Australia is often a story of lonely "bachelor" camps and market gardens, while the Vietnamese story is one of rapid community building, with "Little Saigons" full of family-run grocery stores, schools, and religious centers.

Would you like to know more about how the "White Australia" policy specifically targeted these early Chinese families?

 

[MelaninWarlord]

Because the 19th-century Chinese community in Australia was overwhelmingly male (at one point reaching a ratio of roughly 500 men to 1 woman in some districts), many Chinese men sought companionship and stability by marrying or living with local white women.

While popular history often focused on the "bachelor society," recent research by historians like Dr. Kate Bagnall has revealed that thousands of these interracial marriages occurred across the Australian colonies.

1. Social Profile: Who were these couples?
Contrary to the racist stereotypes of the time, these couples came from various backgrounds:

The Working Class: Most marriages occurred between Chinese market gardeners or laborers and working-class European women (often of Irish or English descent).

The Elite: High-profile merchants like Quong Tart (a famous Sydney tea merchant) married middle-class white women. Tart married Margaret Scarlett in 1886; they were a beloved high-society couple, showing that some mixed families achieved great social standing.

The Families: These weren't just "affairs." They were often long-term, stable households with many children. By the 1901 census, there were over 1,000 "mixed-race" children in New South Wales alone.

2. The Harsh Public Backlash
Interracial relationships were a major source of anxiety for the architects of the White Australia Policy.

The "Immorality" Myth: The press and politicians often painted these women as "fallen" or "destitute." They were frequently accused—usually falsely—of being prostitutes or opium addicts to explain why they would "sink" to marrying a Chinese man.

Racial Panic: These families were seen as a threat to "racial purity." Critics feared that a new "hybrid" population would undermine the British character of Australia.

Social Isolation: Many white women who married Chinese men were shunned by their own families or social circles, though they often found a new, welcoming community within the local Chinese networks.

3. Legal and Practical Challenges
The law made life difficult for these families:
Loss of British Status: Under certain colonial laws, a white woman could lose her status as a British subject if she married a "non-alien" Chinese man.

Travel Restrictions: If the family wanted to visit China, the white wife and mixed-race children often faced difficulties returning to Australia due to the strict dictation tests and entry permits required for non-Europeans.

Property and Inheritance: After the 1903 Naturalisation Act, Chinese men were barred from becoming British subjects, which complicated their ability to own land or pass it on to their families in certain states.
Comparison of Family Structures

 

[MelaninWarlord]

Despite the immense pressure of the White Australia Policy, many of these families thrived, and their descendants are a significant part of Australia’s multicultural fabric today.

Would you like to see the story of a specific famous Chinese-Australian family from this era, like the Quong Tarts or the Afooks?