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Visits to family and ancestral villages in China were important
and regular for many Chinese living in Australia. The visits also
provided opportunities for children to have a Chinese education,
for unmarried family members to find partners, and for overseas
Chinese to display newfound wealth.
After 1901 the visits were documented under the Immigration Restriction
Act. Any Chinese living in Australia who wanted to visit China and
return to Australia had to apply for a Certificate of Exemption
from the Dictation Test.
Low Gunn, 1914, 1919 and 1933. (National Archives
of Australia)
  
These photographs are from Low Gunn's applications for Certificates
of Exemption from the Dictation Test. The application tells us that
Low Gun (also known as Ah Gun) was born in China in 1870 and arrived
in Australia in 1887.
He worked as a miner, gardener and cook. He lived at Hillgrove (1890-1904),
Emmaville (1904-1919) and Sydney (1921-1933). He visited China in
1914, 1919 and 1933. There is no record of him returning from his
last trip.
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Members
of the Hon family from Tenterfield in China, 1917. (Private collection).
From left to right: Dulcie, Cecilia holding Ted, Ora and Merle.
Members of the Fay
family from Inverell on their way to Hong Kong and China in about
1931. (Private collection).
