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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210514T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210514T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210407T085224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210422T034437Z
UID:2705-1621018800-1621029600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Suffrajitsu & Playing the Ghost | Ballarat Heritage Festival
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/sptg/
LOCATION:BMI – Multiple Spaces\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,BMI Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3bc4d070a929e13e1b5ff308cfa1ee65-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210509T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210509T150000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210420T070704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210422T034447Z
UID:2976-1620565200-1620572400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Journey to the Southern Cross | Ballarat Heritage Festival
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/jttsc/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,BMI Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/482bcdd02fa8fe3ddd75d368445021b7.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210508T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210508T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210420T070704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210808T032122Z
UID:2975-1620496800-1620502200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Murder Mystery | The Peculiar Demise of William Bailey
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/william-bailey-mystery/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,BMI Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/186456208_1883618885121481_3037375389238591407_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210501T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210501T233000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210422T032210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210902T231804Z
UID:3161-1619892000-1619911800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Rock Ballarat Burlesque Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rock-ballarat-burlesque-showcase/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/burlesque-ii-small-1046x1479-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210328T150000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210328T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210308T064055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210902T231821Z
UID:2365-1616943600-1616950800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Keep the Circle Unbroken - Ballarat
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ktcu/
LOCATION:BMI – Multiple Spaces\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/540137b6bebec0055e539e5a54d24651.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210318T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210318T210000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210308T063321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210902T231833Z
UID:2357-1616094000-1616101200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:MICF Class Clowns | Ballarat Heat
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/class-clowns-2021/
LOCATION:BMI – Multiple Spaces\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/88e0e8e29bd66f49a899dbff909c887c.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210313T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210313T223000
DTSTAMP:20260418T125600
CREATED:20210308T063350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210902T231845Z
UID:2361-1615662000-1615674600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Big Women | Presented by LadderFrame Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety				\n				\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			November 27\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$8 – $12 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Humffray Room 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Author\, John Smyth				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Article: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  								\n				\n									When you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century.  Johnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage.  Having learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. Sociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. “He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. “But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” Alloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. “Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. “If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” Smyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									While working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. “He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. “It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” Smyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. “We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.”   								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Subject: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat notoriety				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					More Twilight Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n                        ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n                        A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n                        Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/big-women/
LOCATION:BMI – Multiple Spaces\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9bed223c4c2963ef1986371ff06f951f.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR