'Bulwark of the Country and Salvation of the Colony': Class Alignments and the Importation of Chinese Labour, 1847-1853

Abstract

In such laudatory terms was the colonial squattocracy described and extolled. It was argued that in their position the squatters were 'entitled to the respect and sympathy from all classes' and fully justified in their actions in importing indentured Chinese labourers; The systematic importation of indentured Chinese labourers by the colonial squatters between 1847 and 1853 that brought approximately 3,500 labourers to the colony was the result of nearly ten years agitation and planning by the squatters to acquire some form of servile labour, and may be viewed as a peak in the squatters' economic, political and social power.