AH LING (1)

Description

Biographical informationAh Ling (1), known as Charlie, was born in about 1860 (on his travel paperwork in 1898 & 1900 he says 1863). He migrated to Western Australia in 1883. He was five feet and seven inches in height. He was a cousin of Charlie Ling On and Chow Youke and the brother of AH CHEW (3).

In 1890 he rented a market garden in South Perth from Justice Stone and also owned the Ah Ling & Co. shop at 127 Barrack Street, Perth in 1890. He had bought this shop from his cousin, Chow Youke. He was recorded as owning a pearling plant under the business name of Ah Ling & Co in Cossack when his application for naturalisation was approved in July 1890.

He applied for travel approval in 1894 and 1900. In 1897 he employed Shom George to manage the Barrack Street shop for him. He then travelled overseas in February 1898 and returned in January 1899 (C). In October 1909 Ah Ling & Co. was still operating at 127 Barrack Street (West Australian Advertising Wed 6 Oct 1909, Page 1). In March 1914 he was almost the only non-Anglo Australian to attend Lady Parker's funeral, a sign of his high status in the Perth community (The Daily News, 14 Mar 1914, Page 9).

By 1915 Ah Ling (1) was living and working on or next to Swan Location 311 where he had a plantain plantation and an orchard leased from Burt and Haynes. Ah Ling's residence was described as "three or four jarrah rooms". In 1915, the plantain plantation and orchard were damaged by fire and the "store" burnt down. The plantation and orchard may have continued to operate until about 1919/20 when the property was subdivided and auctioned off. Other nameAh Ling, 1860- (differentiated name)Ah Ling Charlie (also known as)Date of birth1860