LOUEY WAH

Description

Biographical informationLouey Wah was born in Canton, China in 1845. He migrated to Australia in July 1867 on the SS Douglas via Hong Kong.

He became a successful tea merchant in Melbourne, Victoria and lived and had his premises at 72 Little Bourke Street. In 1881 he became a naturalised Australian. He gained considerable influence and was made a life Governor of the Melbourne Hospital in 1887, after making generous donations to the hospital.

Louey Wah married Ah Ping Annie (b. 1859 Castlemaine) in 1878 in Victoria (BDM 1878/3493). Annie died the following year in 1879. He then married CHEONG Jane (marriage date not recorded) and they had at least two children:
1) LOUEY LING TACK (aka LOUEY George) (b. 1883 Melbourne, Victoria) - see link to his page
2) LOUEY William Arthur (b. 1885 Melbourne, Victoria)(BDM 1885/22510) - married 1) Eleanor Morley + 3 children; 2) Agnes Ogden.

In 1886 Loury Wah moved with his children and his second wife, Jane Cheong, to Perth, Western Australia and set up his business "J Louey" on the corner of James and Stirling Streets in Northbridge, Perth. He also had a premises at 165 William Street. He sold wholesale produce and was a prominent figure in the produce auction markets.

Louey Wah was a lay preacher and active member of the Perth Presbyterian Church, helping to teach at the Sunday School. For many years he was superintendent of the Church's Chinese mission school.

He was elected the first President of the Chung Wah Association of Western Australia in 1909. He held office for two terms from 1909 - 1912 and then 1914 - 1915.

He lived with his wife, Jane, and children at 24 James Street, Northbridge, Perth. He died in 1915. His wife died one year before him. The family name changed to Tack as his son was recorded as Louey Ling Tack. His grandson Arthur changed the family name to Fong and this is the name used by most of his living descendants today.Other nameLouis Wah LoueyAh Wah, Louis雷華雷學煜Louie WaughDate of birth1845Date of death18th November 1915