General stores were a vital part of the regional communities that developed throughout Australia in the 19th century. They were the link between their communities and the metropolis and to overseas markets. Chinese immigrants were a dominant part of this retail trade across the country. By 1901 there were 800 people of Chinese descent working in NSW shops - a statistic that suggests the existence of several hundred 'Chinese stores' in the state.
Wong Sat and Amelia Wong were married in 1864. Seven of their 10 children were born there. Both Amelia and Sat had migrated to Australia in the 1850s. Amelia arrived with her family from Manchester where they had a drapery business. Like many other Chinese men Sat made his way to Australia alone and in search of gold. He too made his way to the Bathurst area. Again like many other Chinese migrants, Sat moved from mining into trade - possibly as a butcher, shopkeeper or carrier.

Sat and Amelia were selling supplies to Chinese and European customers in the gold mining town of Tuena from 1864 to 1875. In that year the family moved south to the Fullerton/Bolong area near Crookwell where they continued to trade and farm on a rented property. In 1879 Sat was naturalised which allowed him to purchase land. Several hundred acres were bought in 1880 and a small wooden store was built on the property. Built on a sheep farm well away from link roads, the rudimentary wooden building was a 'convenience store' supplying local families on the properties and occasional travellers with a vast array of goods from foodstuffs to clothing, school needs to farm supplies. Where city and large country department stores were utilising sophisticated display techniques the Wong store had a functional set of shelves. Most goods were stored in boxes or cupboards to be brought out upon request. Like other general stores, the Wongs' business also served an important economic function as a provider of credit for families waiting for returns on their wool clip or harvest. The Wongs became highly respected members of the local community. The store traded until Sat's death in 1916

The shop stock dates from 1875-1916.

Shop stock, food related groceries and associated packaging, wood / glass / metal / paper / textile, Wong family, Australia, 1875-1916

The following items represent a sample of these goods. One '7lb' ground ginger tin turned into a storage tin labelled 'peppercorns'; one empty '1lb' tin 'Finest Ground Ginger D. Mitchell and Co Ltd Sydney'; six full packets of Chinese tea 'March 20th 1885 Registered in Patent Office Hang Mee Trade Mark Best Kooloo Tea Canton China' with packing case; one empty tin of Blanchflowers Red Herrings, Blanchflower and Sons England; one bottle of 'Cold Drawn Castor Oil D. Mitchell and Sons Sydney'; one empty tin 'Superior Barley Sugar; one empty tin 'Dillon Burrows Lolly Sticks'; one empty wooden box 'Essence of Lemon London'; one cotton rice bag 'D. Mitchell and Co Ltd Sydney'; three cotton flour bags 'Laggan Flour Mills, Laggan'; one packet of unknown substance.

Made: 1875 - 1916

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1875 - 1916