Banners
Date Published
Elaborate banners for various purposes were a common feature of the Chinese community.
Banner detail
The commissioning of heavily embroidered banners for a variety of purposes was a common feature of the Chinese Australian community. Typically, these banners were made in China and were given to individuals that the community felt had been of assistance to them, such as those given to Stretton and Strangman.
Other banners were for use within the community such as that made for the Chung Wah Society in Perth or for the Rockhampton branch of the Kuomintang. Also in Perth are banners used by the Christian Chinese community. In Launceston are to be found a banner made to accompany the donation of the temple artifacts to the QVMAG.
A variation, which seems to be unique, was the commissioning of the Beechworth Banners not by the Chinese community but by the European hospital board (albeit at the suggestion of the Chinese community) to be presented to the local Chinese community as recognition for their donations to the hospital. This banner, like many that are no longer extant, was used in processions.
An interesting variation on the gift of a banner was the gift of a full length portrait to retiring Melbourne Mayor in 1876.
The Argus, Friday 17 November 1876, p.6.
