Residents of an upmarket suburb are divided over calls to rename a beach, claiming the current name is offensive to the Chinese community.
Osmand Chiu, a second-generation Chinese-Australian, wants the name of Chinamans Beach in Mosman, on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, to be changed.
Mr Chiu, a researcher at the independent public policy think tank PerCapita, said the term “Chinese” was disrespectful and used as a racist insult.
“It’s shocking to have a place called ‘Chinamans Beach’ in the city where I was born and raised, as if there’s nothing wrong with it,” he told the Mosman Collective.
‘We would never call a place ‘Chinese’ or call someone ‘Chinese’ these days, but that says a lot about the term.’
The beach’s name became associated with the nearby vegetable gardens managed by people from the Chinese community in the 19th century.
The beach was known as Rosherville Beach, but was renamed in 1977, according to Sophie-Loy Wilson, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Sydney.
Mrs. Wilson said SBS Insight The name was changed to refer to Chinese fishermen who liked to fish in the surrounding areas.
Calls to rename the iconic beach Chinamans Beach, in the harbourside suburb of Mosman, after a derogatory term used to describe people of Chinese descent (stock image)
“Before refrigeration equipment was introduced, Chinese fishermen were very important in Australia because they knew how to preserve, smoke and cure fish,” she said.
This popular tourist attraction, surrounded by a 250-metre stretch of sand, is now home to some of the most expensive real estate in Australia.
The local population is divided on the issue. For example, resident and real estate advisor Rob Klaric believes that the beautiful beach should not be renamed.
“Many wealthy Chinese from mainland China love the name of the beach: Chinamans Beach,” he said.
Other residents defended the name on social media.
‘Okay, should it be called Australianman Beach? Let’s see how that goes? So bored that people are offended by words yawn yawn,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘Absolutely not. It’s history with a beautiful story. When will this madness stop.’
Mr Chiu said the people he had spoken to had wanted the name changed for a long time.
He said the name change was to recognise people of Chinese and East Asian descent who have contributed to Australia.
‘While it may be uncomfortable for some people, this is an open and honest discussion about the term [Chinaman] and its history,” he said.
The name of the beach (pictured) was associated with nearby market gardens run by people from the Chinese community in the 19th century
Mr Chiu suggested naming the beach after Cho Hi Tick, who created the historic vegetable garden after taking out a lease.
According to The Composite Gazetteer of Australia, there are 253 places in Australia where the name ‘Chinaman’ or ‘Chinamen’ occurs.
The database, which consists of a collection of place names from across Australia, shows that New South Wales has the most places, with 83. That is more than in any other state.
Victoria has the second most, at 58.
A spokesman for Mosman City Council said there were no plans to rename the beach, saying renaming was a matter for the NSW Geographical Names Board.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the council, Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and the NSW Geographical Names Board for further comment.