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associated with the actual well, although two items, one part of a windchime,
the other a bottle base, were noted in the general vicinity.
Further removed from the well was the substantial artefact scatter which is
clearly associated with the Chinese occupation. Although the site has been
flooded on a number of occasions the velocity of the f100dwaters does not
appear to have been sufficient to dislocate the items analysed. A possible
explanation for this is that substantial deterioration of the items, especially
anything made of organic material, had already taken place, that many
bottles had already been broken, and that the structures in which they
were housed had already collapsed or been substantially vandalised. The
processes involving active interference could have commenced quite soon
after abandonment. With the removal of reusable materials and the
destruction of any intact ceramics or glass items the incentive for further
site visitations would diminish.
The nature of the scatter here suggests abandonment, particularly of the
more northerly of the two structures. The inclusion in the assemblage of a
whole opium tin, complete with a scrap of cloth, and the presence of a
coin almost certainly associated with personal identification suggest that
the site was not vacated, but that the owner of the items died. Further, the
inclusion in the assemblage of bottles from expensive whisky, Chinese
porcelain of quite high quality, of Celadon-ware and of a quite good quality
bowl may be suggestive of Taoist ritual. If the occupant of the structure at
Chinaman's Garden Well was alive when it was abandoned items
associated with the ritual would most likely have been removed to facilitate
continuance.
The artefact assemblage at Chinaman's Garden Well, apart from some
nice ceramics, is generally more utilitarian that at Chinaman's Well. There
are no gilded or silvered buttons, no gambling counters, no gilded buckles,
and no wine glasses or nobblers. The artefacts outnumber those at
Chinaman's Well, while their nature suggests structures which contained
Windows, and perhaps domestic furnishings, even if rather crude and
utilitarian. The number of bowls and the volume of opium can fragments at
Chinaman's Garden Well suggests either a longer occupancy period or
larger numbers of residents than at Chinaman's Well. Chinaman's Garden
Well site is definitely the site mentioned in the historical record. It is the site
where gatherings of Chinese from the town and perhaps from some of the
surrounding properties took place, where they fought over gambling debts,
and where Europeans tended to cause occasional difficulties. This is
where the grapes were grown which prompted Thomas Wakefield
Chambers to write lengthy diatribes against the prices charged. This is
where water was sold to the Europeans at two shillings and sixpence a
hundred gallons, and probably where Tom Chong Toosey's fence was
burned. It seems women such as 'Long Tom' and 'Matilda Murrilis' lived
with the Chinese at Chinaman's Garden Well, but there is no record of any
children being born to them.