''Heaven calls'' says the writing on three white marble headstones unveiled yesterday during a dedication ceremony at the cemetery, attended by about 30 people.
The graves of Lai Yul, died June 6, 1904, Wong Goo (known as ''Pennyweight''), died March 4, 1904, and Soo Yi Tseung (known as Ah Yee and I-... ), who died on August 14, 1934, aged 87, are near the base of the hilltop cemetery, next to two other Chinese graves.
The cemetery reopened in 2011 after being restored and trust chairman Jeff Sawers said much research had been done since then to identify the people buried at the site. The first burial was 143 years ago but a fire had destroyed the cemetery register.
''Of course, Chinese miners are a big part of the history of this area, but there was no sign of Chinese miners here [in the cemetery] at all,'' Mr Sawers said.
Two miners' headstones were traced a few years ago and reinstated at the cemetery and the three unveiled yesterday were made in a similar manner.
The project cost about $2100 and was funded by the cemetery trust, the Central Lakes Trust and the Otago Community Trust. Historian Les Wong, of Dunedin, carried out research into the identity of the men whose graves had been unmarked ''for almost a lifetime''.
He said all the Chinese graves in the cemetery were facing east.
''Their feet would be pointing in an easterly direction and ideally, if their families could afford it, they would be wearing new shoes. They like to look over the water too and allow their spirits to roam free.''
It was traditional at a Chinese burial to place food parcels by the grave and to toast the spirits of all Chinese and that was done yesterday.
Historian Dr Jim Ng, who has researched Otago goldfields, said it was a poignant day.
''The miners were here to save money and then go back to China but these five never made it home.''
It was important to have the names preserved and the location of the graves marked. Soo Yi Tseung was the last Chinese gold miner in the district, he said.
''He lived on a 10-acre block in this valley and grew fruit, which he took around the district to sell.''
Malcolm Wong, who chairs the Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust and the Dunedin Shanghai Association, brought a message from the Chinese consul-general to Christchurch, Tan Xiutian.
She said the Chinese Government thanked the group for its work in marking the miners' graves.
