With lion dancers and a visit from the prime minister, a museum dedicated to the stories of some of Australia's earliest migrants has marked a start years in the making.
In the heart of Sydney's Chinatown, the Museum of Chinese in Australia threw open its doors, revealing its jade-stone entrance, for the first time on Sunday to much fanfare after years of challenges.
"It's just a really big moment for a lot of us," says the museum's chief executive Peter Cai.
Handed the keys to the old Haymarket Library in 2021, the museum has faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to balancing the intricacies around renovating a 1875 heritage building, and will finally welcome visitors from Tuesday.
A promotional exhibition featuring some of Sydney's biggest merchant families from the late 19th to early 20th century will feature as the final touches continue to be put on the space.
But Mr Cai said the museum's goal was not just to tell the local community's story.
"We want to tell the Chinese Australian story as part of the broader Australian historical development, to feature Chinese Australians as part of Australia's modern nation-building effort," he told AAP.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who grew up in the adjoining suburb of Camperdown with his mother, recalled shopping in Chinatown at Christmas when festivities at his household were a small affair and there was no point having a big turkey.
"What we did was to come to one of the outlets down here, and we had duck and pork barbecue was our Christmas meal, every single year," Mr Albanese recalled.
"And that way, as well, whoever dropped in and everyone was welcome at our place - that was a part of the benefit that we had."
The prime minister said the museum would play an important role in educating about the contribution Chinese migrants and their descendants have made.
"There are Chinese Australians in every aspect of Australian life, something that enriches our country," he said.
The museum has opened during Chinese New Year, in the year of the fire horse, which in Chinese astrology is traditionally linked to a time of significant breakthroughs and drastic change.
"It's such an auspicious time, we're really hoping we get all the renovations done this year," Mr Cai said.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said the museum shone a light on the ambitions, resilience and determination of Chinese migrants
"These are stories worth remembering, because they deepen our understanding of who we are and strengthen the sense of belonging that underpins our multicultural success," she said.
In the face of challenges to multiculturalism and diversity in Australia, Mr Cai said Australians love stories about underdogs.
"(Chinese Australians) arrived in this country, they work really hard against the backdrop of the White Australia policy, yet achieved incredible success over the time," he said.
