These days if you blink you might miss it, but in years gone by, Weldborough was a tin mining boom town. During the 19th century, Weldborough had the largest Chinese community on any tin field in Australia. They are said to have outnumbered the Europeans.

Where Is it?

Weldborough is 28 km south of Derby, 117 km east of Launceston, 44 km north west of St Helens.

 Weldborough was first known as Thomas Plains. It was named after an early surveyor. The original plan was to open the area to rural development but the discovery of tin resulted in a sustained mining boom.

The boom saw a service town of pubs, general stores, butcher’s shops and the like. Later a hotel (with good accommodation) and a racecourse were built. Chinese dominated tin mining and outnumbered Europeans by up to 10 to 1. At its peak, Weldborough had about 700 Chinese miners: most of the State’s 1,000 to 1,300 or so Chinese. The original pub slept three shifts to a bed. Not roulette but mahjong and fan tan were played in Tasmania’s first casino. A lottery was part of gambling and a Chinese man was murdered while taking the proceeds to the bank at nearby Moorina. In 1893 a visiting Chinese opera company performed at Weldborough. The Chinese worshipped at an elaborate local temple, burning incense sticks and seeking guidance from the deity. Weldborough’s joss house – with its ornately dressed figures, intricate carving, scrolls and plaques – is now at the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston.

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At Weldborough cemetery there are numerous derelict graves of Chinese. Although most tin miners returned to China, at Moorina cemetery there is a monument in their honour, together with a stove in which to burn offerings to their spirits: testament to the fortitude of the Chinese and their contribution to the development of Tasmania.
In the roaring days of the Weldborough Mine the lights were never dimmed, and with three shafts to every bed the trade ‘roared on’ continuously, and every prospect bore a pleasant smile. Having exhausted its importance as a going concern, the Weldborough petered out.’