FONG KIM

Description

Biographical informationFong Kim was born in about 1878 in Canton, China. He migrated to Australia in 1893. He travelled at the age of 15 with his father, Sun Mow Loong, to Port Darwin. His father was a well established merchant who owned warehouses in Port Darwin. He was five feet and eight inches in height.

In a statement in July 1911 he explains that his father's business "fell away" and so he went to Jam or Jim Creek, prospecting for about 2 years and after that to Ban creek for a short time but without success. He then went back to Darwin for a short time before moving to Broome, Western Australia. He stayed in Broome for one month and then moved onwards to Cossack. He worked for Quong Hing Chong at Roebourne for six months and then returned to Broome where he worked for Jock Sign from 1897 and 1899. He moved to Port Hedland in 1900 and worked as a cook for Mrs Pilkington for two months, and then for O'Connor for three months. After this he travelled to Wodgina (70 miles from Port Hedland) and worked for Hay Marshall for three months. After this he returned to Port Hedland and lived with See Wah for four months.

He then moved to Whim Creek and worked at the Federal Hotel, from 1901 to 1904. After this he went to Roebourne and worked for the Roebourne Sheep Station for three months. He left and went back to Whim Creek and worked for Mrs Slavin's boarding house for four months. He then worked at Jack Leahy's Hotel for six months after which he worked for W. Harris' boarding house for more than one year.

From the 24th March 1910 until April 1911 he started and worked a market garden in Whim Creek. In February 1911 he was arrested and fined for assaulting Ah Quong (11) at Whim Creek, between Port Hedland and Roebourne, where he had a market garden. Ah Quong was said to be a man of "very bad character and who has many convictions against him and is at present serving a sentence in the Roebourne goal". It was noted by magistrate R.W. Maunsell at this time that "Everyone speaks well of him. He is most law abiding and straight forward in all his dealings". The police description of him noted that "He speaks fairly good broken English, somewhat polished, superior Asiatic appearance, smart gait, fairly intelligent, violent temper, desperate disposition, a gambler and opium smoker". He then sold the market garden in May 1911 to Chin Sing (1) for £60.

He left Western Australia in August 1911 and returned in August 1912 via Broome.

He died in Roebourne Hospital in 1916.
Other nameFong Kim (differentiated name)Quong Tah (may also have used the name)Date of birth1878Date of death1916

Fong Kim aged about 33 in 1911 from his CEDT file - note that his departure was delayed by the investigation into his immigration status (source: NAA: K1145, 1911/106)

Employment

Job titleCookDate employed[date unknown]

Family

ParentSun Mow Loong

Connections

Subject (person)Quong Hing ChongMrs PilkingtonAH QUONG (11)CHIN SING (1)W. HarrisSubject (organisation)Jock Sign & Co. (later Ah Ming's Store)Roebourne Sheep StationMrs Slavin's Boarding House, Whim CreekFederal Hotel, Whim CreekJack Leahy's Hotel, Whim CreekW. I. Harris' Boarding House, Whim CreekSubject (place)DarwinWodginaRoebournePort HedlandBroomeWhim CreekCossackSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaGamblingBoarding house keeperMarket gardeningCookOpiumRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA Immigration File 1911-1912NAA CEDT File 1911

Item information

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

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceWyndham SS Cutter

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceCossack SS Bullara

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDate1893

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceBroomeDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlacePort HedlandDate[date unknown]

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UWA Collected

FONG KIM

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA