WEE BOON TAM

Description

Biographical informationWee Boon Tam (王文三) was born in about 1857 in Hailam [Hainan Island], China. He migrated to Western Australia in June 1881.

He was recruited in Singapore to work as a shepherd under contract to Donald MacPherson, Glentromie Station, Newcastle, for three years at £2 per month.

In February 1882 he was sentenced to three months imprisonment for 'Absconding from Service'. On his release. Wee Boon Tam returned to MacPherson who refused to take him back or allow him to take his clothes and a rug from the property.

Wee Boon Tam made his way to Newcastle where he was found cold and hungry. He was sent to Perth and admitted to the Poor House where he was described as being of 'weak intellect' (C).Other nameWee Boon Tam (differentiated name)王文三Date of birth1857

Document

AAC-Box-007-0130

Person

Donald MacPherson

Employment

Job titleShepherdEmployerDonald MacPhersonDate employedJune 1881

Connections

Subject (organisation)Mount Eliza Depot (Poor House)Glentromie Station, Newcastle Subject (place)Mt Eliza Poor HouseNewcastleSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaAbscondingRelated collectionAnne Atkinson Collection

Item information

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

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceHailamDate1857

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDateJune 1881 (WA)

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceGlentromieDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceToodyayDate[date unknown]

UWA Collected

WEE BOON TAM

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA