| Loong listed on state’s heritage register |
| By News Report
Loong, the Chinese Dragon on Vic Heritage Register
BENDIGO’S greatest cultural icon – Loong the Chinese dragon – has been included on the Victorian Heritage Register and will now receive the state’s highest level of heritage protection.
Loong is a five-clawed cere-monial dragon made in China from papier-mache, silk, cotton and bamboo, and decorated with mirrors and feathers.
It was constructed in sections and was carried by a large troupe of dancers in the annual Easter Monday procession.
The dragon is now about 40 metres long and is held at Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum. Heritage Council chairman Chris Gallagher said Loong was of historical significance to Victoria.
“For more than 115 years, Loong was the star of Bendigo’s famous Easter Fair. Furthermore, the dragon played a significant role in the history of the Chinese in Victoria,’’ she said.
“Loong is a rare surviving link to the Chinese custom of staging performances to raise money for local charities.
“Similar events took place in Melbourne, Beechworth, Ararat, Ballarat and other gold mining towns in the 19th century.” The pearl (teaser) and flame associated with the dragon have also been included on the register.
Dancers carrying these objects preceded Loong in the procession. Both artefacts were imported from China, possibly during the 19th century. In order to protect the object, Loong was retired after the 1970 Easter Fair (following a joint
parade with the new dragon Sun Loong).
However, Loong came out of retirement in 2001 for the Centenary of Federation parade in Melbourne. The Chinese took part in the Easter Fair celebrations from the 1870s, providing traditionally dressed actors and dancers for the procession.
Records show a dragon was included from 1892, although it is possible a dragon appeared as early as 1882. The fair raised money for the Bendigo Benevolent Home and Asylum and the Bendigo Hospital.
The involvement of the local Chinese was seen as an acknowledgement of the need to share in the community cost of supporting Chinese.
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