Weldborough - Culture and History

Weldborough was first known as Thomas Plains. It was named after an early surveyor. The original plan was to open the area to rural development but the discovery of tin resulted in a sustained mining boom.

The mining boom saw a service town of pubs, general stores, butcher's shops and the like. Later a hotel (with good accommodation) and a racecourse were built.

'The Centenary of Portland' describes the town in the 1880s as 'The Chinamen came and set up a local Chinatown, carrying on as tin scratchers everywhere. All tin and goods went and came from Georges Bay by pack track and slab roads ... crops were put in, with good results, as Christmas time, while a few cows arrived upon the scene. This marks the earliest decade ... In the roaring days of the Weldborough Mine the lights were never dimmed, and with three shafts to every bed the trade 'roared on' continuously, and every prospect bore a pleasant smile. Having exhausted its importance as a going concern, the Weldborough petered out.'

It is widely recognised that this was the largest Chinese community on any tin field in Australia. They are said to have outnumbered the Europeans.