PhD candidate Christopher Cheng has given a presentation titled 'Australian Migrant Heritage in South China: The Legacy of Diaspora-funded Schools in 20th century Zhongshan' at the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University.
The talk was held on Thu., 10 November 2022, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEDT (in person and online)
The abstract of his presentation is as below:
This interdisciplinary study addresses a problem at the intersection of the scholarly fields of heritage studies and migration history: How to recognise and manage the heritage of a shared past beyond the boundaries of the nation-state? Under the umbrella of the China–Australia Heritage Corridor project, Chris’s doctoral research specifically explores the social and architectural dimension of the Chinese diaspora’s educational philanthropy in the period from the early twentieth century until the present. The study is the first of its kind to examine how the Chinese diaspora relates to the material heritage of the diaspora-funded school setting in China. It reveals how Chinese migration to Australia resulted in the socio-material transformation of the native home of migrants in the Pearl River Delta of China’s Guangdong Province, specifically in relation to the construction and operation of modern schools there. The socio-material legacies of the diaspora-funded school buildings are a testimony to the generosity of the donors, but the schools may also become a burden for donors and their descendants, requiring maintenance and continuous improvement. The study concludes that Chinese-Australian migrant heritage in China remains relevant to both China and Australia. It testifies to the history of their mutual entanglement and place-based attachment, as well as improving intergenerational relationships.
Please use the link below to watch the video recording of his talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5iSOZqVSM
For more information about his talk, please see the link below
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australian-migrant-heritage-in-south-china-tickets-445622297287?fbclid=IwAR3zjq2G0GQLDjBx0y6-F1lXHcRiTU1Vekz0FINKpnS5BwBRxQnLwBCoUo0