Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Community Starters: Chinese

Mak Sai-Ying’s signature on his marriage certificate in 1842 (supplied).jpg

Mak Sai-Ying’s signature on his marriage certificate in 1842 Source: Supplied

Australia prides itself on being a multicultural society - but it wasn't always that way. Each new culture that flourished here had to start with one adventurous individual or family who took the plunge and crossed the oceans to reach Australia. In this series, we're trying to find those first pioneers. Episode four tells us the story of Mak Sai-Ying, our candidate for the first Chinese person to ever call Australia home


Published

By Julien Oeuillet

Source: SBS News



Share this with family and friends


Australia prides itself on being a multicultural society - but it wasn't always that way. Each new culture that flourished here had to start with one adventurous individual or family who took the plunge and crossed the oceans to reach Australia. In this series, we're trying to find those first pioneers. Episode four tells us the story of Mak Sai-Ying, our candidate for the first Chinese person to ever call Australia home


Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.


Latest podcast episodes

Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world