Abstract
Our article examines Chinese market gardening in Australasia and changes in their agricultural practices, notably the gradual adoption of artificial fertilisers over the twentieth century, consequent with declining supplies of human and animal manure in cities. We highlight the centrality of Chinese market gardens to urban food supplies in Australasia. In light of the public health revolution, we also demonstrate the contentious issue of Chinese use of human waste or nightsoil as fertiliser. We show that urbanisation and the public health revolution transformed manure from a valued agricultural resource into a problematic waste product. Our article reveals a range of attitudes and beliefs towards Chinese market gardening that complicate simplistic narratives of uniform colonial racism.