Gum San translates as Gold Mountain and the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre is literally sitting on the site of the “Gold Mountain” that started Arara’s gold rush.

The Centre tells the story of the 19th century Chinese miners that braved a perilous sea journey followed by a long trek across southern Australia to the new goldfields of Bendigo and Ballarat.

Life size scenarios in the centre depict their travels and experiences of the excitement of gold discoveries mixed with the hardship of life on the goldfields plus the prejudices and hatred from other nationalities that sometimes erupted in to riots.