Chinese community groups in Australia have always provided a great spectacle when they proudly parade the Chinese Dragon amid a fabulous procession of ornately costumed men and women carrying mythical beasts, lanterns, banners and weapons to ward away evil spirits, all accompanied by dancing lions, musicians and noisy firecrackers.
As early as 1867, Chinese immigrants were involved in processions in Castlemaine and Ballarat to celebrate the British Royal Tour of the Duke of Edinburgh. In Bendigo and Ballarat, Chinese processions became popular annual events.
In Melbourne in May 1901, to honour the opening of the first Federal Parliament, the Dragon Procession included two Chinese dragons (one from Bendigo and one from the See Yup Society in Melbourne), a Chinese lion, an orchestra and figures on white horses, accompanied by 300 participants.
The Melbourne Dai Loong Association, custodians of the dragon parade tradition in Melbourne, herald the Spring Festival and New Year in 2015 with the Millennium Dragon emerging from the Chinese Museum to parade through the streets of Melbourne.
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