This year, February 17 marked the start of a two-week celebration of the Lunar New Year based on the lunisolar Chinese Calendar, also known as the Spring Festival as the seasons change in the Northern Hemisphere. The cycles of the moon relative to the Winter Solstice determine the date each year. Each year is represented by a different animal, on a twelve year cycle associated with the 12 new moons of the year. This animal is associated with particular personality traits, if you are born that year, and expectations for the year ahead. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, a symbol of speed, energy and adventure. The horse is also associated with good fortune and success which bodes well for the year ahead.
We do not yet know what this year holds, but let us take a look back at another year of the horse that ushered in great success on the Ballarat diggings, 1858. The Chinese population in Victoria has peaked at approximately 40 000 persons, on the diggings of Ballarat 1 in 5 men come from China. The whole town is aware of the New Year festivities and celebrations are reported in The Star. Over the weekend of the 13 and 14 February the writer describes much noise, crackers and pyrotechnics. [“Local and General News- Chinese New Year” The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 – 1864) 16 February 1858: 3. Web. 19 Feb 2026 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66046584>.]
Speed
84.1237 Woodblock print of a horse race, collected by George and Robina Arnott-Rogers.
1858 marks the start of a universal birthday for Thoroughbred race horses. Associations across Britain agree that all horses will celebrate their birthday 1 January to make it easier to manage age classification in race categories. The following year Australia also votes to adopt a single birthday for horses, but decides to stick with August 1, so horses in different hemispheres are different ages!
Energy
676.81 Ballarat Footballer’s that defeated the combined Victoria League Team, Eastern Oval, 1892
The first AFL match is played 7 August 1858 between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School in Melbourne. The following year the rules would be codified and the game would spread across Victoria, including Ballarat’s Chinese community. James Lepp, for example, played football at school and then, while working at the mine, played for their team. In 1886 he became the first recorded Chinese-Australian umpire.
Ballarat’s Young Sportsperson of the Year receives the Wunhym Trophy named in honour Jack Wunhym. His uncle had been the captain of the Ballarat Chinese team, while Jack went on to become the first Chinese-Australian Captain of a VFL/VFA team.
For more on their stories visit https://play.afl/multicultural/chinese-heritage/pioneers
Adventure and Success
78.0788 Miners pose with The Welcome Nugget.
1858 is also the year the largest nugget ever discovered in Ballarat was unearthed, 9 June at the Red Hill Mining Company. The Welcome Nugget weighed 69kg, still the second largest nugget ever found in Australia, and was discovered by a team of 22 Cornish miners. The nugget toured Australia before being sold to the London Mint and melted down. You can find out more about the Welcome Nugget with a visit to Sovereign Hill’s Red Hill Mine.
2018.0800 Gold ring.
Family history suggests this ring was made with a piece of the Welcome Nugget. Wishing you happiness and prosperity this New Year. What will the year bring you?
Come and visit us at Sovereign Hill, while you are in the Chinese Village make a wish at the temple.
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