Garibaldi

Two miles more, and we emerge from the forest into a few acres of cleared ground. How changed is the scene! Thirty houses–more like sheds with full dome roofs–stand on both sides of a long narrow street. Each house has the same architecture, or the want of it. Each is built close against its neighbour as if appealing for protections. There are no fences, no gardens, no comfortable look about any. One or two seem to hide away behind poles which may be embryo verandahs. Inside the rooms are small, and crowded with all sorts of things, useful and otherwise. Celestials in European clothes are popping in and out, and if bland smiles are evidence of happy, good nature, these citizens of Chinatown are full of it. Every house sports its Chinese lantern and red paper with Chinese hieroglyphics printed thereon. Fruit, sweets, soups, and all manner of refreshments are given liberally to visitors, and the whole place is a hum of activity.

Leaving the one main street we go a few hundred yards to a separate building of larger dimensions. This is the josshouse. Hundreds of visitors are round about it and here, too, we find most of the Chinese congregated. Beautiful and costly lanterns are hung by the josshouse door. Round some lanterns are paper mandarins, etc. revolving on stately procession. Inside the building one is almost overcome with the strong incense and heated air from multitudes of burning tapers. Heavily decorated silks. etc. shut off most of the end view, where, perhaps, Joss himself has his abode for the time. Most of the decorations are very elaborate, and some are exceedingly beautiful. About thirty yards in front of the josshouse stands a huge gallows, so high that our thoughts go back to the story of Haman; a long rope from the cross has a suggestive look too. While are looking and wondering at all this a fearful sound splits the air besides.
Rest of story.
The Mercury, 1 March 1912

Tin Pot Row, Chinese Tin Miners’ at Garibaldi
Weekly Courier, 21 May 1914

By the time the above account was written and the photo was taken, Garibaldi was in decline. It was a mining camp, a Chinese camp, and falling tin prices and recently introduced restrictions on immigrations led to a decline in the Chinese population and the mining population of the North-East in general.

The earliest mention I’ve found of Garibaldi as a place where people lived (rather then the mine of the same name or company) is this:

CHINESE MISSION.-Those persons who are interested in the effort now being made to bring the Chinese in our midst under the influence of the Gospel will be glad to learn that Mr. Wang Poo has made a good start, and has been well received by his countrymen in the mining districts of the North-East Coast:–He writes of his first S services :-“On the 16th August 41 attended the service at Moorina, and a favourable impression was made. . . . On the 23rd, 73 Chinese were present. On 30th, at Garibaldi claim, 105 attended. The same evening I held a service at Moorina. I am doing as much visiting as I can. . . . Several are asking for the Chinese New Testament.”
Launceston Examiner, 7 September 1885

Then a number of entries from the following year, as the little town grows and comes to people’s attention

A large Chinese camp has lately been built at the Garibaldi about eight miles from here, which will probably shortly become the head-quarters of the Chinese in this district. The only thing required to make it so now is a Joss House, which will probably be obtained, either by building a new one, or the removal of the one at Weldboro’, unless our respected missionary Wong Poo, succeeds in converting the majority to Christianity, when probably instead of a Joss House, they will have a church.
The Mercury, 3 April 1886

COURT OF REQUESTS.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 7.
Before the hon. C. O’Reilly, Commissioner.
The only defended case was Ah Shing v. We Quock, claim for £8, goods sold, etc.; £5, labour in erecting store, and £15 for a house at the Garibaldi.
The Commissioner ruled that the claim for the last item did not come within the jurisdiction of the Court.
Ah Shing deposed to having delivered Chinese cinnamon, with other goods, to defendant in January last, which he agreed to take; he also assisted in the erection of a store at the Garibaldi for defendant, for which he (defendant) had agreed to pay £5, but had not done so. In reply to defendant-I gave you the cinnamon out of the Garibaldi store, and the work done at the store was for you and your son; delivered cinnamon to your son, considering that you and he were in partnership.
For the defence, Tep Ting, son of defendant, deposed to being a storekeeper at the Garibaldi ; denied having received cinnamon from plaintiff ; did not take a bag from plaintiff with cinnamon in it, and did not sell the cinnamon to Ah Wee ; was not in partnership with defendant, but he lived with him (defendant); plaintiff built the store for him, and not for his father (defendant).
Lin Gooey deposed to having heard defendant ask plaintiff for money, and they had words about it ; defendant said he would get an execution against plaintiff ; the conversation was about goods sold and delivered by plaintiff to defendant.
Several other witnesses were examined for the defence, but no material evidence was elicited. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for £13.
Launceston Examiner, 16 July 1886

On the Derry claim is a large store and butcher’s and baker’s shops, owned by Mr. A. J. Joyce, who does a very extensive business ; and on the Garibaldi is a large Chinese camp, and store owned by Ah Tan.
The Mercury, 28 November 1887

On the latter [Garibaldi] claim is a Chinese camp, which is the Chinese stores and gambling houses, which makes it very lively on Sundays.
Tasmanian News, 29 July 1886

Ah, yes. A temporary town, populated mostly by labourers, with no permanent police presence or licensed premises. You might be able to guess what it was like.

The Chinese seem to be the men who are making the money, judging from the way they gamble. One of them was playing £50 a shot at fan tan, but “him catch him no luck” he says. Another lost £120 the other night at the Garibaldi camp. But the police will no doubt put a stop to a little of it, after what was stated in Court at Moorina the other day, the evidence showing it to be a little hell of gambling and pawn shops.
Daily Telegraph, 14 November 1888

I think the police should pay a little more attention to the Chinese about the Wyniford River and Garibaldi camp so as to put down the wholesale gambling that is now carried on, also the abuse that the Licensing Act gets. It is an established fact that all the shanties in these camps keep liquor, for Europeans get wending their way home in the smalls hours of the morning, their legs not being able to carry their body, tumbling into tail-races, ditches, and sleeping out in the bush all night./em>
The Colonist, 15 February 1890

Perhaps a few lines about the Garibaldi Camp and it surroundings would not be amiss, as I do not think many of your readers can be aware of the evil that exists in our midst, and the utter neglect with which we are treated. Gambling, drinking and all kinds of immorality are openly practised at the Chinese camp here day and night. Not the least effort is being made to put a stop to it, and it would indeed be a “Red Letter Day” in the annals of the Wyniford River history if such be done; but I think some great calamity–such as the death of the Chinese “Joes”–will have to take place before our superintendent of police will consent to bring his august presences into our midst to enquire into the causes of the why and wherefore, and try to remedy this evil.
The Colonist, 20 July 1889

THE GARIBALDI TRAGEDY.
(To the Editor.)
Sir,-In reference to the Garibaldi tragedy there is one thing that has not been enquired into. The two unfortunate men, Manson and Thompson, were under the influence of drink. No enquiry was made as to where that drink was obtained. It is a well-known fact to all the residents here that there is, and have been for the last eight or 10 years, sly grog shops kept by the Chinese on the Garibaldi camp. Sly is hardly correct, for it is openly sold, and the scenes, especially on a Sunday, are a disgrace to the colony. Drunken Europeans and Chinese (both. male and female) have full license, there being no police within six miles. The decoctions sold in these shops as spirits would kill at a thousand yards, so there is little to wonder at that a sober and well-behaved lad like Manson would be stupid or drunk, not more than half-an-hour having elapsed from the time when he entered the camp till the shot was fired. This is the second violent death within a hundred yards of these shanties in the short period of four years, and the danger is now that more will happen. I do not think it is too much to ask the powers that be to use a firm hand, and put a stop to the accursed trade which is demoralising for our young. men, and is a curse to the employers of labour.-Yours, etc.,
PRO BONO PUBLICO.
(We have eliminated the last paragraph in this letter, as it is libellous.-Ed. “Ex.”)
Examiner, 15 August 1900

The tragedy referred to: the two young men mentioned, Manson & Thompson, were on their way home when they stopped to sit on a seesaw. Fourteen year old Ada, alone with her younger siblings, got alarmed at having drunk strangers in her yard, took out a gun and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t leave. Thompson told her to do it. So she did. (She was acquitted on grounds of justifiable homicide.)

There were ongong convictions for sly grog selling. It’s main reason for Garibaldi appearing in the news.

SLY GROG SELLING PROSECUTION
(BY TELEGRAPH.)
MOORINA, MONDaY.
The case of sly grog selling against Ah Tan, of Garibaldi, was concluded at a late hour on Saturday evening, a verdict being given for plaintiff. As this was the second offence a fine of £50 and costs was recorded, The next case for the same offence against Her Lock was dealt with to-day, and concluded late this evening, defendant being fined £55 and costs. Further cases of a similar nature against the Chinese await hearing.
Launceston Examiner, 8 August 1893

I take it that Ah Tan is the aforementioned storekeeper.

CHINESE SLY-GROG CASES.
SIR,-In reference to the above, I am induced to write this letter owing to the knowledge I happen to have acquired of the manners and customs’ of Chinese life on the tin mines. While not in the most remote degree advocating or sympathising with a breach of the law, I would say something at least in palliation of the above offence, and at the same time offer a word of excuse for our Chinese miners. As it is the invariable custom of the Chinese to take spirits with their meals in small quantities, a supply has to be kept on hand by the Chinese storekeeper for this purpose, and is as regularly sold to their customers as Worcester sauce or pickles, or any condiment to Europeans. No party of Chinese miners, no matter how remotely situated from their camp, ii without their bottle of Mi-que[?] Loo, Wee Sang, or. Engapee, for culinary use, and to sip at meal times. I say sip advisedly, for they are very moderate drinkers, and a small quantity suffices, as any European who baa partaken of their hospitality can testify. You might just as well deprive us of our tea, coffee, cocoa, etc., as deprive the Chinese miner of his customary beverage. In all fairness, therefore, the leading Chinese storekeepers on the mines should be allowed a grocer’s bottle license, restricted to Chinese spirits, to enable him to supply his customers without committing a breach of the Licensing Act.

I trust that our legislators will take the matter in band, and have the necessary bottle license added to the Licensing Act, for, in one respect, our Chinese friends are like the majority of Europeans, inasmuch as that they will have their grog if they only had cold potatoes in the cupboard.
-Yours etc., FAIR PLAY.
The Mercury, 17 August 1893

Outside of news stories, there isn’t much written about Garibaldi. From books and web sites, about you’ll find out is the population of Chinese, their European-wives and families reached a few hundred and the camp was as large as, or larger than the Weldborough camp. I don’t know what the actual population figures were but from the Ringarooma assessment rolls (which detail all the properties with owner & occupier for rates purposes) the number of buildings was:

1886: 10 Cottages, boot shop, barber’s shop, two stores

1890: 20 Cottages, boot shop, barber’s shop, three stores (two with dwellings)

1896: 13 Cottages, one hut, two stores (one with cottage)

1900: 13 Cottages, one hut, three stores (one with cottage)

(If you were wondering, one of those stores each year is occupied by Ah Tan. I don’t know where he came from or went to thought.)

One regular event at Garibaldi that was popular throughout the district was the fire works display every Chinese new year and residents (and visitors) of nearby towns travelled to see it. (That’s what the opening story was about, if you didn’t read the whole thing)

The Chinese new year is just over and the Celestials, numbering about 600 in camp, have had a rare festival this year. I hear that about £400 was gathered for the occasion, which went towards a new joss house at the Garibaldi claim, an addition to joss house at Weldborough, and £100 for fireworks.
The Tasmanian, 23 February 1889

The Chinese New Year was celebrated at the Garibaldi camp with a general display of fireworks. A great number of Europeans came from Thomas Plains, Brothers’ Home, Moorina, and Gladstone to view tho illuminations, which must have cost fully £500. One Chinaman who had been lucky at the Chinese lottery by breaking the bank contributed the sum of £100 towards the purchase of fireworks.
Daily Telegraph, 4 February 1890

I think the Joss House was built about 1890ish.

Chinese Josshouse, Garibaldi
Weekly Courier, 21 May 1914

It wasn’t the only form of religion available. The Christian missionaries were keen to get converts.

MISSION TO THE CHINESE.
PUBLIC MEETING.
Last evening a meeting in connection with the work of the Chinese catechist, John Yung Choy, who has labored for the past 10 months among the Chinese of the North Eastern mining districts, was held in the Town Hall.
…
Soo Hoo Ten left for Sydney to carry on his own work after visiting the Chinese camp at Garibaldi, leaving John Yung Choy in his new sphere. The three chief Chinese localities were Weldborough, Garibaldi, and Ruby Flat, and it was decided to centre the work at Garibaldi, the missionary paying monthly visits to Weldborough to consult with his superintending clergyman, the Rev. Owen Jacson. The camp at Garibaldi contained 120 Chinese, of whom four were Christians. There were six half-caste families with 32 children, of whom six were Roman Catholics, and the remainder belonged to the Church of England. It was estimated that some 50 Chinamen above those mentioned visited Garibaldi on Sunday. The evangelist showed much zeal, and was assisted in his work by Lee Pah Leang, the native doctor, a baptised member of the church ; and Chin Kit, who was of great use as interpreter. Three half-caste children had been baptised, and six others were being prepared for that rite. Six half-caste men were also baptised, and three true Chinamen were being prepared. The difficulties in the way of the mission were great, such as the conservatism of the Chinese ; also the prevalent vice of gambling.
Daily Telegraph, 21 June 1895

From “Chinese Mission”:
The work Of conveying the Gospel to the Chinese in the colony was a most important one, but it would take a long time. One Chinaman had been baptised at Garibaldi, and he gave lessons every evening to others. Some of the Chinese in the: Garibaldi district were married, and their children were being taught Christianity. He would continue to do the best he could, and hoped God would help him.
The Tasmanian, 23 March 1895

While the camp town appeared quickly, it dwindled away over time, as town are liable to do. Most of the population moves on, shops and other buildings close, and are moved away.

One part-Chinese interviewee (aged 72) remembers at least 40 huts at Garibaldi in her early childhood. She lived nearby Garibaldi at the Argus mine, and remembers the camp very well. By the late 1910s the camp was becoming derelict with many huts standing empty and only occasionally used by passing miners seeking new ground. The Garibaldi Joss house was pulled down in c.1926 and some of its contents passed to her family. Garibaldi is described by several oral sources as having two streets lined with small semi-detached huts, and a Joss house.
Tasmania’s Chinese Heritage: An Historical Record Of Chinese Sites In North East Tasmania, p. 24

A few people stay in the area, and sometimes make the news, but gradually they slipped away too.

POLICE COURT.
On Saturday at the Police Court before Messrs L. C. Clark and B. C Glover J’sP., a chinaman named Ah Pack of Garibaldi, was charged with having 3 ouncee of opium in his possession, fit for smoking. The defendant who was represented by Mr S. F. Evans, pleaded guilty. Mr Evans made a pathetic appeal to the Bench to inflict the minimum penalty, on the ground that Ah Pack suffered from a serious illness, and that it was absolutely necessary for him to have a certain quantity of this drug at stated periods. The Bench took into consideration Mr Evan’s appeal, and fined Ah Pack the minimum penalty of £10, with 10;6 analyst’s fee, 8 /- court cost.
North-Eastern Advertiser, 21 December 1915

DESTROYED BY FIRE
PIONEER, Wednesday.
A four-roomed weatherboard cottage, occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth Wood and her daughter, situated at the Garibaldi, about two miles from here, was burned to the ground about 2 o’clock yesterday morning. Everything seemed safe as the family retired. Mrs. Wood was awakened by the sound of crackling timber, and upon rising she opened the door, and found an outside room in flames. Quickly closing the door, she, with her daughter’s assistance, tried to save their clothing, etc. A neighbour came to their assistance, but in a few minutes the building, with its contents, was destroyed. A son, Private Wood, arrived from the Base Hospital to find the home gone. The house and contents were insured for a small amount, which is not known.
Examiner, 25 April 1918

(That might be Ada’s mother.)

The Waugh tin mines are about three miles from Pioneer, in the direction of the Blue Tier, are close to the old township of Garibaldi, which in the early days of tin mining was quite a flourishing Chinese centre, even to a most pretentious Joss-house. But all that remains is a few huts, fast falling to decay, or only one or two Chinese inhabitants. Yet at one time, when the field was flourishing, there was a population of close on a thousand, with little camps dotted about the hills and valleys.
Examiner, 21 September 1925