North Sydney Council approached us to design and deliver a bi-lingual online exhibition, Chinese Market Gardeners and Storekeepers in North Sydney 1870-1932, which explores the contributions of Chinese Australians to the area’s history.

Drawing on extensive archives, immigration records, and period press articles, the exhibition highlights personal stories of gardeners and shopkeepers – their work, and their lives.

Interactive features enable exploration of archival and contemporary maps to discover in-depth detail of over 50 notable properties, their occupants, floor-plans and other richly evocative data.

Curated by award-winning author and one of Sydney’s foremost historians, Ian Hoskins, the project was inspired by Council’s complete archive of original Property Ledgers, Valuation and Rate Books, dating from 1867 through to 1940.

North Sydney Council’s Historical Services team recently worked with Jenssen Design Associates to deliver a groundbreaking and innovative new website – Chinese Market Gardeners and Storekeepers in North Sydney, 1870-1940 which focuses on the forgotten role of Chinese people in the local area. Iain was wonderful to work with, always accommodating and professional and his design capabilities are excellent. This project would not have been possible without his input.

Ian Hoskins | Historian | North Sydney Council

Visit the exhibition