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 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.]

He is believed to have divorced Mary c.1928 and then took the children to China. He returned to Australia in 1936 and moved to Darwin where he worked as a market gardener ('South Flows the Pearl', p. 245).

He died in Sydney in 1970 and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Chinese Zone H plot 760.

[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

Person

FONG HENLY

FONG KEE Arthur

FONG KEE Frang (?Frank)

FONG KEE Harold

FONG KEE Jacob

FONG KEE Mary (female)

FONG KEE Mary Tereaser (female)

FONG KEE Mollie (female)

Fong Kee aged 33 in 1919 from his CEDT paperwork (source: NAA: K1145, 1919/156)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceCantonDate1886

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDate1887

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceCarnarvonDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceBroomeDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceRoebourneDate[date unknown]

Employment

Job titleShop assistantDate employed[date unknown]

Family

SpouseFONG KEE Mary (female)SiblingFONG HENLYChildFONG KEE Harold FONG KEE Frang (?Frank)FONG KEE Mary Tereaser (female)FONG KEE ArthurFONG KEE Mollie (female)FONG KEE Jacob

Connections

Subject (place)RoebourneYankee Town, CarnarvonBroomeSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaShop assistantShop keeperTailorRestaurateurRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CEDT File 1908?NAA CEDT File 1912NAA CEDT File 1919NAA CEDT File 1928?NAA Whole Family Immigration File 1919-1960 <Not digitised #31659417>

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)South Flows the Pearl

UWA Collected

FONG KEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA