QUAN AH SAM

Description

Biographical informationQuan Ah Sam was born in about 1861 in Canton, China. He was five feet five and three quarter inches in height. He emigrated to Australia in approximately 1875-1880. He had eight children and travelled overseas at least four times: June 1898, January to October 1911, March to June 1915 and September 1915 to August 1918.

He lived at 51 Little Bourke Street in Melbourne initially and set up a business importing and selling Chinese goods and tea. He traded as Fook Hi and Wing Hi. At some point he returned to China where he married his wife, Ah Kee. After a few months he travelled back to Melbourne although his wife stayed in China. Quan Ah Sam opened a grocery store on Little Bourke Street returning again to China after three years. He again stayed for a few months before he and his wife travelled to Melbourne. He then worked for a chemist named Hung Chun Hong in Little Bourke Street. He and his Ah Kee lived first at Latrobe Street, where their first child, a girl named Suey Lin Jennie, was born in 1886. Their second child, See Koy, died when only a few months old in 1888 and Ah Kee either died or separated from Quan Ah Sam.

Quan Ah Sam remarried to a woman named Jan or Ling. After a year the family moved to 2 Hay Lane where they had two more children: a girl named Suey Land Daisy (1890) and a boy, See Ching Alexander (1893). After a few years they moved to 51 (renumbered 228) Bourke Street where Quan Ah Sam carried on a business as an importer of Chinese goods and lived above the shop. They had two more boys, See Chong Harold 1895) and See Fun Albert (1897) who were born in Little Bourke Street.

In 1898 Quan Ah Sam travelled back to China with his wife and five children. The family lived in Canton for a couple of years where they had their final child See Kong (1901).

In 1901 Quan Ah Sam applied for immigration papers for his brother, Ah Que, who lived in Melbourne, to come to Western Australia for two years to take care of his business as Quan Ah Sam wished to travel overseas. This was refused.

They then moved to Macao in Hong Kong where Quan Ah Sam had a share in a mat factory. The family remained in Hong Kong for about ten years although See Ching Alexander travelled to Melbourne around 1904 to attend school. See Ching Alexander stayed with his uncle Quan Pat at 228 Little Bourke Street.

In about 1907 Quan Ah Sam, Suey Lind, See Fun Albert and See Chong Harold travelled to Melbourne and then Perth, leaving his wife, Suey Land and See Kong behind in China. His other child, See Ching Alexander was at school in Melbourne, living with his uncle. Quan Ah Sam returned to China again around 1912, this time leaving his children in Australia. He travelled to Australia again, this time landing in Perth, in 1911 bringing his son See Kong with him to be educated in Australia.

He was a partner and merchant in Ah Sam & Co., seller of fancy goods, 112 Barrack Street, Perth, in 1893, 1894 and 1910. He also owned a market gardens at Bayswater. In 1907 he was charged with keeping a gaming House at 373 Murray Street, with Pack Toong but was acquitted.

He died on the 17th March 1928 in Hong Kong (Sunday Times, 16th September 1928).
Other nameQuan AH Sam (differentiated name)QUAN AH SHEM (also known as)Quan A SamKwan Ah ShemDate of birth1861Date of death17th March 1928

Quan Ah Sam aged 55 in 1915 from his CEDT paperwork (source: NAA: K1145, 1915/144)

Family

SpouseJan (female)SiblingQuan PatAh QueChildSHEM SEE KONGSHEM AlexanderSHEM HaroldSHEM SUEY LAND (female)SHEM SUEY LIN (female)SHEM Albert

Connections

Subject (organisation)Ah Sam & Co., PerthAh Sam's Market Garden, BayswaterSubject (place)112 Barrack Street, PerthSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaShop keeperMerchantRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CEDT File 1910NAA CEDT File 1915NAA CEDT File 1915The Daily News, 30 August 1910: 4The Daily News, 25 November 1907, 8PROV Outward Passenger VPRS 948/P0001NAA: MT269/1, VIC/CHINA/SAM QUAN AH

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)Additional research by Ron Milton

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceChinaDate1862

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDate1876 or 1879

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UWA Collected

QUAN AH SAM

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA