Australia's 1.4 Million Chinese Welcome The Year Of The Snake

Photo: Ying An and Qionghuan celebrate Chinese New Year visiting their daughter in Australia.

29/01/2025

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - As Australia prepares to welcome the Year of the Snake on January 29, 2025, the celebration holds special significance for the country's 1.4 million Chinese-Australians, now representing 5.5% of the total population.

“The Snake year embodies wisdom and transformation," says Larita Nicolson, founder of Journey Chinese. "These celebrations showcase how deeply Chinese culture has enriched Australian society, particularly through our shared love of food and tradition."

With Mandarin ranking as Australia's second most spoken language at home, Chinese cultural integration continues to flourish. Australia home to the largest per-capita Chinese population outside Asia. Sydney leads with 552,680 residents of Chinese ancestry, followed by Melbourne with 409,285 (2021 Census Data).

Traditional New Year dishes carry profound meaning. Families gather to prepare dumplings shaped like ancient silver ingots, symbolising wealth. Whole steamed fish represents abundance, while longevity noodles promise a long life.

“Food is a powerful cultural bridge," Nicolson explains. "When Australians learn why we eat certain dishes during New Year, they're also learning about values that have shaped Chinese culture for millennia."

Media Contact:
Larita@journeychinese.com.au