The answer to this question may sound like a resounding NO to those who do not know about the history of sites and locations being named “Chinaman”. In actual fact it is a very disrespectful and racist term, with historical nuances akin to calling a Chinese person “Ching Chong” etc. If you look up old newspaper clippings and posters from the late 1800s to early 1900s, the term “Chinaman” was used to describe the Chinese in the most racist and derogatory way possible.

Osmond Chiu, a research fellow at the Per Capita think tank explains to Being Asian Australian that this term is used to “demean” and “de-humanise” a Chinese person.

“The term is used to insult and demean on the basis of race. The term dehumanises by stripping a person of their dignity through evoking a racist caricature of a Chinese person. Anyone who has experienced being subjected to racist slurs can tell you how deeply hurtful it is”.

Currently there are 253 sites and locations across Australia which use the name “Chinaman” or “Chinamen”, and it is time these names are removed and changed to something more appropriate and not racist.

For Chiu, sites and locations named after Europeans/ Caucasian/white people use actual personal names and it shows the inequity racial groups such as the Chinese faced back in the early days.

“Places named after Europeans in Australia tended to use personal names. The use of “Chinaman” rather than personal names highlights how the early Chinese in Australia were not seen as equal and instead treated as nameless mass. It symbolises the anti-Chinese sentiments that existed at the time”.

Anti-Asian hate in Australia has existed since the early Asians (Chinese and Punjabi Sikhs) first came to Australia from the mid to the start of the 1900s. For the Chinese being called a “Chinaman” back then was derogatory and used to remove any semblance of dignity for the Chinese. It was used due to hate, ignorance and a lack of understanding of different races and cultures other than those who are considered white and/or European. In the present day, anti-Asian hate has not really changed, nor has the hate for anyone who looks Chinese in Australia. Just look at what happened during COVID-19 racism and the current negative narratives being put out about China and Chinese people in the media and in the court of public opinion.

All these instances are examples of hate, racism and pure ignorance and it shows that Australia has never really acknowledged this problem, nor has reconciled with its racist anti-Asian history.

“Australia has never really come to terms with its historic anti-Asian racism. Colonial Australia was the first part of the British Empire to introduce anti-Chinese legislation and that racism was a driving force for Federation. Events like the gold rush riots and the introduction of the White Australia Policy are treated as historical sidenotes rather than being interrogated for shaping the foundations of Australia”, Chiu discussed.

So the question beckons as to what can be done to change the names of all these 253 sites and locations. Of course it can- however that will require a long and lengthy process with the first step making all Australians understand why this term is racist, derogatory and just unacceptable. It will also require a coordinated effort to get state and local governments on board with local and grassroots support.

“Education will need to be the first step because many people do not understand why place names need to change. Australia’s debate is decades behind other countries because many people still think the term “Chinaman” is innocuous”, Chiu stated.

“The exact process for changing place names differs from state to state but where they exist, contacting geographic name boards, and getting support from the relevant local council will be important. Building local support and getting wider public attention will be essential to the success of any campaign. Having conversations about why the term “Chinaman” is racist and how extensively the term is used in Australia compared to other countries to raise awareness is a simple but an important action that Asian Australians can do. People are shocked when you explain it to them and it will help build support for change”.