Profile: A small number of Chinese were brought to the Wellington district as indentured labourers during the late 1840s and early 1850s. The discovery of gold in the area then attracted many more. By 1901, the census recorded that, of the 2,988 people living in the town itself, 66 were Chinese and there were a further 151 Chinese in the surrounding district.Local memories and records indicate that there were two parts of the town in which Chinese residents concentrated. These were along Gobolion Street near the Macquarie River bridge, and along the river end of Percy Street. There were also a number of Chinese owned stores. Among these were Yee War and Company (1906), Jas Ah Lun's store (1897-1901), Charles Hunt's store in Lee Street (until 1934), the Fong Lee store (about 1879 to 1935), and the smaller stores run by Stanley Ying Key and William and Eileen Mow Funn.Just outside the town and extending along the Bell River were extensive market gardens. References: Primary SourcesFong Lee and Ling Collections, Oxley Museum, Wellington.Middleton, A. and Maning, F.G. (eds). Bathurst and Western District Directory and Tourist's Guide and Gazetteer 1886-1887, J. Virtue and Co., Sydney, 1886.Sing Lee Family Photographs, Private Collection, Wellington.Wise's Post Office Directory, 1906, pp.660-661.Secondary SourcesBooks and articlesDormer, Marion and Parker, Alex. Sketchbook of Dubbo and District, pub. details?, pp.84-85. (supplied by Sandra Smith)McDonald, D.I. They Came to a Valley: Wellington 1817-1967, Wellington Historical Society, 1968.Porter, Robert. History of Wellington: A record of the growth of the town and district from the earliest days, W.C. Penfold, Sydney, 1906. (Reprinted 1990)Field notes and recordingsJoe Eisenberg, Interview with Carole Gass, Min Loo Sick and Tim Sing Lee, August 1999. Golden Threads Recording.Joe Eisenberg and Janis Wilton talking with Carole Gass and Judith Hiatt, Wellington, 29 March 1997. Golden Threads Tape Recording CP6.Janis Wilton, Notes from a phone conversation with Colin Jones, Curator, Cobar Regional Museum, 20 May 1997. Golden Threads Field Notes. |
