FONG KEE

Description

Biographical informationFong Kee was born in March 1886 in Canton, China. He migrated to Australia with his parents in 1887 and moved to Western Australia in 1900. His name was Louey Fong Kong, 'but through misunderstanding of Chinese names, it became Fong Kee in English' ('South Flows the Pearl', p. 244). He was the brother of Fong Henly.

He married Mary Fong Kee (née Chong) in 1917 in Broome (BDM 1917/1100011) and they had at least six children: Frang, Harold, Mary Tereasar, Arthur, Mollie and Jacob. He was five feet and five inches in height.

He worked as a shop assistant at Roebourne in 1908 (E). He was recorded as a tailor residing at Yankee Town, Carnarvon, in 1916. He moved to Broome in 1917 (B). Fong Kee and Mary married in Broome in 1917 (BDM 1100011/1917). He was described as an 'Eating House Keeper' in 1919 (Harold's Immigration file, NAA Item ID: 30819138).

He travelled overseas three times: April 1912 to August 1913; December 1919 to April 1920; and May 1928 to October 1936 (D). His 1928 CEDT was number 1928/45 but no record of this can be found on the NAA catalogue. A later file [NAA, PP239/1, W1960/13341, ID: 31659417] confirms he travelled with the children using this CEDT and departed via Gascoyne on 22 May 1928.

In February 1928, Fong Kee placed several advertisements in newspapers advising he would no longer be responsible for any debts incurred by Mary. (West Australian, 24, 25 and 27 February 1928).

He is believed to have separated from Mary in 1928 and then took five of the children to China. He returned to Australia in 1936 with his son Harold and moved to Darwin where he worked as a market gardener ('South Flows the Pearl', p. 245). In 1941 he was living in Cavanagh Street, Darwin with his sons, Harold and Arthur.

He died in Sydney in 1970 and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Chinese Zone H plot 760. He was interred with Jue Fong Kee (d. 4/12/1985).

[In addition, it is believed he travelled in 1908 on CEDT 1908/30 but this has not been located. CEDT 1908/30 was also used for a different person - Ah Ban who returned to Cairns. Also, his return in 1936 may be on CEDTS 1936/25 and/or 1936/26 but these have yet to be located as well.]
Other nameFong Kee (differentiated name)Date of birthMarch 1886Date of death4th February 1970