Chew Lun's Market Garden, Bibra Lake

Description

DescriptionChew Lun operated a market garden in Bibra Lake and employed several Chinese people to work in his garden.

Sources also list his garden as 'Chew Lung' or 'Chew Lang'. The location is variously listed as 'Bibra Lake' or 'Jandakot'. The land may have been leased from Mr Ramsey or Mr Laurence.

A description of Chew Lun by correspondent ‘The Pagan’ was published in the Sunday Times, 10 August 1913, p. 15. Regarding settlers at Jandakot (and using language not deemed acceptable today):
“One Chinaman in particular might be mentioned. His name is Chew Lung, and he has a number of white chaps grafting for him at 8/ a day ploughing, digging etc. It may seem rather an ignominious thing for a white man to work in a Chow’s garden, but an idea of that sort would never strike a section of the Jandakot toilers who have spent a large proportion of their time in the fertile country place. Anyway, this Chew Lung is described as a “real white man” by his employees, and he has two little yellow children attending the local State school. The Celestial has about 550 acres of land on lease, and last year he is state to have grown £700 worth of cauliflowers on three or four acres. Which will convey some faint idea of the wonderful soil in the garden suburb of Fremantle.”

Immigration records confirm that Chew Lun was in China between September 1920 and September 1927; however, newspaper reports indicate that a gray wagon (Registration 6121) was registered to Chew Lung in August 1924 (Sunday Times, 24 August 1924, p. 24). It needs to be confirmed who was managing the garden in Chew Lun's absence.

The use of the truck resulted in considerable shortening of travel time from the Bibra Lake garden to markets in Fremantle:
"A few weeks ago a Gray truck was sold to Mr. Chew Lung, of Bibra Lake, conditionally, that it would pull one ton from his place to the road. To anyone knowing the country round about Bibra Lake, there is no need to
dwell on the severe test the agents were putting this truck to. However, a load of vegetables was put on and a ton guessed. This sturdy little truck came through a mile and a half of sand to the road without an effort, and when the load was put over the weigh-bridge at the Fremantle markets, it was found that the load turned the scale at 1 ton 8cwt. Result: A very pleased Mr. Lung, and truck purchased. Since then it has pulled 35cwt. through the sand. It used to take Mr. Lung
over three hours to get from his place to Fremantle markets with his horse, whereas the journey is now done under the hour." (Sunday Times, 14 September 1924, p. 21).
AddressBibra LakeLocation^[1]

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