Chinese gardens

There were Chinese gardens planted along the Yarrowee River, where fresh vegetables were grown. Many of these were on the Mount Pleasant side of the creek, but some are described as being in Redan. There was a Chinese village in Mount Pleasant, in Hill Street, just over the creek, near the site of the Sunnyside Mill.

History
The locals were not above stealing from the gardens as shown in this report in December 1880: "On Sunday afternoon, in broad daylight, a few youths, nearly grown up to man's estate, were among the peas in the Chinese garden at Redan, and were busily helping themselves, evidently without permission from the Celestials. On being shouted to by a passer-by the young blackguards sneaked off like cowardly hounds and called names. The circumstance caused a good deal of comment from some persons who saw the affair, and a wonder was expressed as to how much the Chinese gardeners think they would be benefited by adopting Christian morality as they saw it exemplified by the young rascals in question...Obviously, there is the heavy arm of the law required at Redan, though it is hard to say how it would be best to employ it. Last year the police fearlessly did their duty and brought six or seven culprits from that quarter before the local bench for some such practices as those referred to, but the bench discharged the offenders, and it seems that the law has now lost its terror for both parents and children. All would like to see Something done to effect an improvement."