MANILLA CHINESE MEMORIAL GARDEN

​The Manilla Chinese Memorial Garden shelters ten headstones which originally marked the burial places of our early Chinese farmers and market gardeners who grew vegetables and tobacco on plots and farms along the Manilla and Namoi Rivers. These monuments were removed from their original site/s during property transfer and were placed in storage at Manilla Cemetery for some time. MHS became aware of their existence in 1987. They were brought to the grounds of Royce's House and a section of the grounds was set aside for their permanent relocation. Here they were placed and dedicated, in acknowledgement of the Chinese Community's contribution to Manilla's early development, their provision of fresh produce to the townsfolk and their working life on the farms hereabouts.This Memorial was opened on May 4th 1996.