The Amoy Shepherds Monument honours the Chinese labourers who came to St George in the mid-1800s from famine-stricken villages in Amoy (now Xiamen, China). Around 300 men worked under five-year contracts as shepherds and labourers, tending over 450,000 sheep.

Many were unable to return home, as their minimal wages could not cover the journey. Floods and fire destroyed their burial records and timber headstones, leaving little trace of their lives.

The monument features artwork by local Kamilaroi student Daisy Brown, symbolizing the connection between her ancestors and the Amoy shepherds who lived and worked along the Balonne River. It also includes an inscription of a 1300-year-old Tang Dynasty poem, reflecting their struggles and resilience.

This tribute commemorates the Amoy shepherds’ legacy and their contribution to the St George’s history.