Preliminary announcement and calls for expressions of interest

To mark the sesquicentennial of the influx of Chinese on to the New South Wales goldfields in 1858 an international conference, hosted by the Centre for the Study of the Chinese Southern Diaspora, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU in July 2008 and will bring together scholars, historians, archaeologists, heritage and museum specialists, and other researchers from throughout Australia and overseas to explore, examine, and share their research findings on the Chinese in Australian Mining History. In addition to the Chinese on the New South Wales mining fields, the conference will be concerned with the comparative history and archaeology of Chinese on other mining fields in Australia and overseas, in particular southeast Asia, the Americas, and New Zealand, as well as within China itself. The four major themes of the conference, for which proposals for panels and papers are now sought will be the following:

· Comparative and trans-national histories of Chinese mining communities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific;
· Chinese mining technology, technological transfer and innovation overseas;
· Historical archaeology of Chinese mining: sites, artefacts, and material culture
· Presenting and representing Chinese mining heritage overseas in the digital age: theme parks, heritage trails, museums, and digitization.

Proposals for panels and papers on other aspects of Chinese overseas mining history beyond these themes would also be welcomed and considered.

Pre- and post-conference tours, field work and workshops are being planned to Southern NSW and Braidwood, and to Hill End Sofala, and the Turon, in the central west of NSW.

The major sponsor of the conference is the National Museum of Australia and further sponsorship is being sought especially so that financial assistance may be provided to participants from outside Australia