Chinese heritage centre without First Nations space ‘an insult’

The proposed first Chinese cultural and heritage centre in Cairns has sparked concern from Aboriginal elders that such a project without a similar space dedicated to First Nations history would be an ‘insult’ to traditional owners.

Queensland Multiculturalism Minister Fiona Simpson, left, Cairns and District Chinese Association president Lai Chu Chan and architect Roger Mainwood.

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Queensland’s first Chinese cultural and heritage centre will be built in Cairns with state government funds, sparking concern from Aboriginal elders that such a project without a similar space dedicated to First Nations history would be an “insult” to traditional owners.

The Crisafulli government’s Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Fiona Simpson, said $2.7m in taxpayer funds would be used to help build the Chinese centre, which would house artefacts brought from China to the Lit Sung Goong temple in Cairns in the late 1880s.

Cairns and District Chinese Association president Lai Chu Chan said the group – which is contributing about $1.3m to the build – had been advocating for a museum and community centre for nearly four decades to recognise the contribution of Chinese people since the gold rush when about one-third of the population of Cairns was Chinese migrants.

“It’s been a very long journey for us … the fact that Queensland doesn’t have a Chinese cultural and heritage centre is significant,” Ms Chan said.

The temple artefacts, including the original altar, chairs and painted glass screens, are believed to be the only collection of its kind and quality in Australia and are currently held in a warehouse in Cairns, where they at risk of damage from the elements.

During the 2024 state election, both the LNP and Labor promised to help fund the project.

An artist’s impression of Queensland's first Chinese Cultural Heritage Centre in Cairns.

But the Crisafulli government has so far failed to commit to building two First Nations cultural centres – in Brisbane and Cairns – despite a $3m business case finished before the election.

Yidinji elder Henrietta Marrie, whose great-grandfather was the Aboriginal leader Ye-i-nie dubbed the King of Cairns by the Queensland government in 1905, said local traditional owners had been pushing for a centre dedicated to the history and culture of the Yidinji tribe for years.

“I don’t have any problem with the Chinese heritage centre going up, it’s wonderful, but let’s also celebrate the First Nations people of this region, the original people’s heritage and history,” said Professor Marrie, an academic and former public servant who has worked for the UN. “Let’s celebrate the diversity. I think it’s an insult if there’s only a Chinese cultural centre that goes up.”

Professor Marrie said Yidinji people had been negotiating with the British Museum for the repatriation of Ye-i-nie’s shell regalia – worn in his hair and around his neck and forehead – which were taken back to Britain without his permission in the early 1900s, as well as tribal shields.

Ye-i-nie, dubbed the King of Cairns, circa 1905. Picture: Queensland Art Gallery

She said a First Nations cultural centre would be the ideal place to protect and display the regalia and other important Indigenous artefacts.

Labor’s Closing the Gap and Reconciliation spokeswoman Leeanne Enoch criticised Ms Simpson’s decision to make the announcement on the 17th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.