In 1857 a sustained mining boom commenced on the Braidwood goldfields. One of the most important factors was the arrival of large numbers of Chinese miners, in response to the punitive taxes and immigration restrictions introduced in Victoria and South Australia, and the reduction in the NSW licence fee. By 1859 the Chinese miners were well established on all of the Braidwood goldfields. There were about 2000 miners in any one year between 1858 and 1862.

In Central West NSW the main wave of Chinese miners came in the 1860s. They were the first miners to discover large payable deposits on the Belubula River near Carcoar, and for many years were in the majority on that field and other nearby fields.

In my paper I compare and contrast the lives of the Chinese miners on both goldfields, and discuss the existence or otherwise of racial discrimination. I also discuss the archaeology of both goldfields