Damon Mcknight
Australia has long been a desirable country for Chinese people to live, work, and retire in, with its inclusive culture, high quality of life, and abundant career opportunities. Chinese Australians are one of the largest groups within the global Chinese diaspora, and they make up the largest Asian Australian community. Per capita, Australia has more people of Chinese ancestry than any country outside Asia. As of 2021, the Chinese diaspora in Australia numbered 1.4 million, accounting for 5.5% of the population. The geographic distribution of Chinese immigrants shows a preference for several vital cities. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are the top three cities with the most Chinese population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total population of Australia | 27,204,809 (as of 30 June 2024) |
| Number of Chinese-born people in Australia | 595,630 (as of June 2021) |
| Percentage of Chinese-born people in Australia's overseas-born population | 7.9% |
| Percentage of Chinese-born people in Australia's total population | 2.3% |
| Median age of permanent Chinese migrants | 39.7 |
| Gender distribution of Chinese migrants | 56% women, 44% men |
| Top 5 cities with the most Chinese population in Australia | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Ballarat |
| Percentage of Sydney's residents who identify as Chinese Australians | 11.22% |
| Percentage of Melbourne's population with Chinese ancestry | 8.93% |
| Percentage of people with Chinese ancestry living outside of Australia's capital cities | <8% |
| Number of people with Chinese heritage who fought for Australia in World Wars I and II | Over 200 each |
| Languages spoken by the China-born community in Victoria | Russian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese |
| English language proficiency of the China-born population in Victoria | 65.3% speak English 'very well' or 'well' |
| Main points of arrival for the China-born population in Victoria | 2001-2010, 2011-2015, 2016-2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Chinese Australians in Sydney
Chinese Australians have played a long and continuing role in the history of Australia. Sydney, the largest city in Australia, has been a hub for Chinese Australians, with a significant Chinese community dating back to the 19th century.
The history of Chinese Australians in Sydney goes back to the early 1800s, with the arrival of Mak Sai Ying, also known as John Shying, in 1818. He was the first officially recorded Chinese migrant to Australia and became a prominent figure in Parramatta. The Australian Gold Rushes of the 19th century lured thousands of Chinese people to the country, with many arriving in Sydney. By the 1850s and 1860s, the number of Chinese people in Australia peaked at around 40,000, with a significant number living in Sydney. Many Chinese men worked as indentured labourers in the New South Wales countryside, and the Chinese community in Sydney began to establish businesses and industries, contributing to the growth of the city.
Early Chinese immigrants to Sydney faced widespread racist sentiments and anti-Chinese riots, which led to the introduction of immigration restrictions and discriminatory policies such as the White Australia Policy. Despite these challenges, the Chinese community in Sydney persevered and continued to grow. Today, Sydney continues to be a primary destination for Chinese immigrants, with an estimated 11.22% of the city's residents identifying as Chinese Australians as of 2025. The state of New South Wales has seen a significant rise in Chinese migration, attracted by the city's thriving economy, educational institutions, and vibrant Chinese culture.
The Chinese Australian community in Sydney has made significant contributions to the city's cultural tapestry. They celebrate various cultural and religious holidays, such as Chinese New Year, the Moon Festival, and Labour Day on May 1st. The Chinese community in Sydney is also known for its diverse cuisine, with Chinatown in Sydney being a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.
In recent years, there has been an increase in political engagement among Chinese Australians in Sydney. In the 2022 Australian federal election, electorates with a higher concentration of Chinese-Australian voters experienced larger swings against the Coalition, resulting in the Liberal Party losing federal seats with large Chinese communities. This shift in voting patterns has been attributed to various factors, including Australia's fraught relationship with China.
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Melbourne's Chinese population
Melbourne has a large and established Chinese community. As of 2025, Melbourne is Australia's most populous city, with a population of 5,392,000, and an estimated 8.93% of the city's population identifies as having Chinese ancestry. This makes Melbourne the second most popular city for Chinese Australians, after Sydney.
Melbourne's Chinese community has a long history, dating back to the gold rush of the 1850s, when thousands of Chinese migrants were lured to the city in search of gold. By 1855, there were 11,493 Chinese arrivals in Melbourne, and by 1858, 42,000 Chinese immigrants had arrived in Victoria, with many living in boarding houses in Little Bourke Street. Despite facing widespread racist sentiments and immigration restrictions, the Chinese community continued to grow and thrive, contributing significantly to the city's growth and development.
Today, Melbourne's Chinese community is diverse and vibrant, with a variety of cultural offerings, including Chinese New Year celebrations, parades, and events, as well as Chinatown, which is the second longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Melbourne also has a variety of Chinese restaurants, karaoke lounges, temples, and Asian stores. The Division of Chisholm in Melbourne has the highest number of Chinese-Australian voters, and the community has a high level of educational attainment, with many Chinese-born Australians holding diploma-level or higher qualifications.
The city's multicultural population and rich cultural experience, along with its work opportunities, make Melbourne an attractive destination for Chinese immigrants, and the community continues to grow and contribute to the city's diverse and dynamic culture.
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Brisbane's Olympic Games
Australia has long been a desirable country for Chinese immigrants, and it has one of the largest groups within the global Chinese diaspora. As of 2021, 5.5% of Australia's population identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry. Major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have developed solid Chinese Australian communities, contributing to Australia's rich cultural tapestry.
Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, has experienced rapid growth in its Chinese population. As of 2025, Brisbane's population is expected to be 2,568,000, ranking as the third-largest population in Australian cities. The 2032 Olympic Games are expected to boost the city's economy and attract more Chinese immigrants. Brisbane was selected as the host city for the 2032 Summer Olympics, officially known as Brisbane 2032, on February 24, 2021, and approved on July 21, 2021, during the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo. Brisbane has 11 years to prepare for the games, which is the most time a host city has had for planning and organizing an Olympic Games.
The Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games was established by the Queensland Government in 2021 and is governed by a board led by Andrew Liveris AO. The committee's role is to plan, organize, and deliver the games in accordance with the 'host contract'. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also appointed Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski as the new Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Brisbane 2032 Games.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to be a transformative event, fostering connections and celebrating people, performance, and community. The games will be held across Brisbane and unforgettable regional co-host cities in Queensland and Australia. Brisbane's transport infrastructure and climate were also factors in its selection as the host city. A feasibility study suggested that the games could catalyze increased transport and infrastructure investment, with billions of dollars of investment required for roads and public transport.
The 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane will be an exciting event, bringing together athletes and communities from around the world. With a rich cultural tapestry that includes a significant Chinese Australian community, Brisbane is well-positioned to host a successful Olympic Games.
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Chinese in rural Australia
Chinese Australians rarely choose to live in rural areas. The 2016 census found that less than 8% of people with Chinese ancestry had chosen to live outside of Australia's eight capital cities, compared to more than 30% of the general population. However, some Chinese Australians have moved to regional areas in search of a different pace of life.
One such person is Daniel Kong, who moved to Christmas Island, thousands of kilometres away from his hometown of Sydney. On Christmas Island, more than one-fifth of the population has Chinese ancestry, and Daniel has been welcomed by the local Chinese community, many of whom originated from Malaysia. Another Chinese Australian who has moved to a regional area is Chen Shi, who relocated with her family from the north-east coast of China to Ballarat, a town with a population of about 115,000 residents. Chen enjoys the slower pace of life in Ballarat, as well as the gardening and picnics she does with her family.
Historically, Chinese Australians have been drawn to major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, where they have established strong communities and contributed to the country's growth and development. The gold rushes of the 19th century lured many Chinese people to Australia, and they settled in cities like Melbourne and Sydney, as well as in regional areas like Bendigo and Ballarat. In the 1850s, Bendigo's Chinese population peaked at 1,200, or 20% of the town's population, and the Chinese community played an important role in the town's Easter Fair (now Festival). However, due to racism and restrictive immigration policies, the population of Chinese Australians declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In recent years, there has been an increase in permanent migration from China to Australia, and Chinese Australians continue to play a significant role in shaping the country's future. While most Chinese Australians live in major cities, some have chosen to make their homes in rural areas, where they have found welcoming communities and a different pace of life.
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Migration from the PRC
Migration from the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Australia has been steadily increasing in recent years. As of June 2021, there were 595,630 Chinese-born people living in Australia, a 53.7% increase compared to a decade earlier. This makes the PRC-born population the third-largest migrant community in Australia. Notably, more women are migrating than men, with 56% of the population being female.
The Australian state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, has a long history of migration from the PRC. The first wave of migration to Victoria occurred during the gold rush in the 1850s, when thousands of Chinese men arrived in the state. By 1861, the Chinese community in Victoria was thriving, with people from the PRC making up nearly 7% of the state's population. In the late 20th century, migration from the PRC to Victoria increased again, with many Chinese students seeking citizenship and asylum after the pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square in 1989. From the 1990s onwards, the community continued to grow as more PRC citizens arrived to pursue economic and investment opportunities and higher education.
Sydney, the largest city in Australia, is a primary destination for immigrants from the PRC. In 2025, Sydney's population was estimated to be 5,249,000, with 11.22% of residents identifying as Chinese Australians. Sydney's thriving economy, educational institutions, and vibrant Chinese culture make it an attractive destination for PRC immigrants.
Melbourne, the second-most populous city in Australia, is also home to a significant Chinese Australian community, with an estimated 8.93% of the city's population identifying as having Chinese ancestry in 2025. Melbourne offers a balance of work opportunities and a rich cultural experience, making it appealing to PRC immigrants.
While most Chinese Australians choose to live in major cities, some have settled in regional areas of the country. For example, the township of Kununurra in Western Australia's Kimberley region has attracted some PRC immigrants with its essential services, friendly residents, and natural beauty. Similarly, the old gold mining town of Ballarat in Victoria has become home to immigrants from the PRC, offering a peaceful and tranquil lifestyle.
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Frequently asked questions
Chinese Australians are one of the largest groups within the global Chinese diaspora, and they make up the largest Asian Australian community. In 2021, they accounted for 5.5% of Australia's population. While Chinese Australians can be found all over Australia, they are mostly concentrated in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Chinese immigrants prefer cities like Sydney and Melbourne due to their thriving economies, educational institutions, vibrant Chinese culture, work opportunities and rich cultural experiences. Sydney, being the largest city in Australia, is the primary destination for Chinese immigrants.
Chinese Australians rarely choose to live in rural Australia. The 2016 census found that less than 8% of people with Chinese ancestry had chosen to live outside of Australia's eight capital cities, while more than 30% of Australia's general population live in regional or rural areas.
Australia has long been recognised as one of the world's most desirable countries to live, work and retire, especially for Chinese Australians seeking a better life. Migrants from Hong Kong cite geographical proximity and a similar time zone, which facilitate easier contact with family and friends. Other factors that make Australia appealing include its pleasant climate, robust social welfare system, abundant career opportunities and a sense of political safety.
