THE LARGE CHINESE CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY AUSTRALIA

 Portraits  from  collections of  Library and  Archives Northern Territory and  the  Chung  Wah Society's Chinese Museum, Darwin  

In May-June 1905 the South Australian Governor, Sir George Le Hunte, toured the Northern Territory. On Monday  June 19  ,  a deputation of merchants, representing the Chinese community, waited upon His Excellency  at  The  Residency in Darwin . 

Shown here ,(at back L to R), Lloyd Herbert, Mrs Herbert, Sir George Le Hunte, Aide de Camp, Lady Le Hunte, Justice Herbert; (at middle L to R) Chin Mee Leung, Chin Pat Mow, unknown (obscured), Fong How; (at front L to R) Chin Kim Kee, Charlie Yee, Bang Ben, Yuen Yet Hing, Chin Toy.

Young Chinese women were central to family and community life but they were often also politically and commercially active. In this 1932 socialite  group ,(at back L to R), Selina Hassan (Lee Hang Gong), Ruby Quee, Myrtle Houng On Yee (Fong Gim Lunn), unknown, Pauline Chee Quee; (at front L to R) unknown,unknown.

                

Pastor Lo (1900-1995) was born in South China and raised in a Christian family. In 1931 he married Wong Yuk Yuen in Hong Kong and served with the London Missionary Society until 1941 when they came to Darwin. They were almost immediately evacuated but came back in 1946.

From 1948 Lo conducted missionary work in " Rabul " , possibly Rabaul ,PNG ,  but returned to Darwin in 1952. Between 1956 and 1964 the family shared their time between Rabul and Darwin, as well as Brisbane. From 1964 the family retired to Darwin and Lo wrote a number of autobiographical works.

From California in the 1870s came Hong Pak Cheong (1854-c1922), known as Cheon .He  became famous as the cook  in Jeannie Gunn's 1908 novel We of the Never Never . He  left  Australia in  1919  and  settled  in  Singapore with  a Chinese wife. 

The late historian and publisher Glenville Pike often  voiced the opinion that the Chinese  had  played a major part in opening up Australia . He particularly mentioned involvement in  mining, railway building , land  clearing  and   market  gardening .

 Late  in  life he  married an  Asian wife  and  whenever  they ventured into Mareeba  they  went to separate eateries as  he was no fan of  Chinese  tucker , liked  steak an eggs  . 

A  recent  television show   brought  home   the large   part  Chinese   had played  in  opening  up  the  Darling Downs , the Atherton Tablelands and  Cairns .