Chinese Commerce in Wollongong, 1850s – 1950s

Abstract

Wollongong, on the South Coast of New South Wales, is little-known in the history of the Chinese southern diaspora; yet, it was the site of numerous, diverse and often highly successful Chinese commercial ventures between the 1850s and 1950s. Chinese people in Wollongong ran dairy farms, fished, grew tobacco, kept market gardens, had shops, operated restaurants and even drove buses. This was in spite of their small community, which numbered around 150 at peak - among 18,000 “whites” – during the early 1900s. Given this unexpectedly intense concentration and rich diversity of Chinese commerce, the Wollongong case stands out from others and suggests a need for detailed local research in other locations. Show more