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During the second half of the nineteenth century, news of gold and tin
discoveries ensured the arrival of new Chinese immigrants in regional New South Wales.
Some arrived directly from China; others came from the other Australian colonies. New
immigrants were also brought out by relatives and fellow villagers already in Australia.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the patterns were made more
difficult by restrictive immigration legislation and Chinese wanting to sponsor new
arrivals had to work their way around that legislation.
 Percy
Young, sons and nephews, Glen Innes, about 1915. (Private collection).
Left to right: (standing) Henry Young, Harry Yee, Leslie Young,
Jimmy Hoon, Sam Yett, Stanley Young (sitting), Robert Kwan, Walter
Gett, Roger Young, Percy Young with Norman Young, Frank Fatt.
The 1901 Immigration Restriction Act aimed to prevent
further Chinese immigration. There were some exceptions.
Storekeepers could sponsor shop assistants for short periods. With extensions, a number
settled in Australia. This photograph shows Percy Young, the owner of Kwong Sing store Glen Innes. other adults are nephews whom he sponsored to come Australia;
boys his Australian-born sons. and sons eventually established their own
businesses families> Storekeepers could sponsor shop assistants for
short periods. With extensions, a number settled in Australia. This photograph shows Percy
Young (Kwan Hong Kee), owner of the Kwong Sing store in Glen Innes. The other adults are
nephews whom he sponsored to come to Australia; the boys are his Australian-born sons. The
nephews and sons eventually established their own businesses and families in Australia.
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 Mary
and Elaine Hong of the Hop Sing store in Tenterfield with Eileen
and Betty Wong when they arrived from China in 1945. (Private collection)
Like many Chinese-Australian storekeepers, Mary
and John Hong sponsored relatives and fellow villagers
from China. Under the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act
they could be brought in as students or shop assistants.
Both Eileen and Betty Wong attended school for a time
in Tenterfield and assisted in the Hop Sing store. |
