Sue Wah Chin
Sue Wah Chin | |
---|---|
Guangdong Province, China | |
Died | 27 March 2000 | (aged 99)
Nationality | Chinese-Australian |
Occupation(s) | Restaurant and shop opener |
Spouse | Chin Ack Sam |
Children | Eric, Raymond, Darwina, Oswald, Wellington, John, Florence, Norma, Gordon, Sylvia and Victor |
Sue Wah Chin (21 July 1900 – 27 March 2000) was a Chinese entrepreneur living and working in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Sue Wah Chin or 'Stonehouse' building, one of the remaining heritage buildings in central Darwin, is named after her.
Early life
Chin was born in
Life in the Northern Territory
The Chin family left for Australia in 1928 staying initially with Chin Toy at the rear of his store in the Fang Cheong Loong building on Cavenagh Street in Darwin. Chin had three more children in Darwin, Darwina, Oswald, and Wellington and worked as a seamstress.[1]
The family returned to China in 1933 to seek education for the two eldest sons. Their ship the SS Taiping hit rough seas due to a
The family then lived on Woods Street, where Chin and her daughter Darwina assisted with tailoring. Chin had three more children John, Florence, and Norma.
The family was evacuated to Adelaide before the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in February 1942.[3] In Adelaide, they opened a restaurant in Rundle Street. Chin had three more children during this time, Gordon, Sylvia, and Victor.
After returning to Darwin in 1949, Chin partnered with other Chinese families to open a Chinese restaurant in the Don Hotel,[1] moving into the old stonehouses (or stone houses) in Cavenagh Street. In addition to the restaurant they operated a store there which was frequented by Darwin children seeking their salty plums.[2] It soon became known as the Sue Wah Chin building which still exists today, having survived some damage during Cyclone Tracy.[4] Ownership of the building remained in the Chin family until 2008 and it is now heritage protected.[5][6][7] They operated a store there which was frequented by Darwin children seeking their salty plums.[2]
Later life
Chin was naturalised in 1956. Her husband died in 1968 leaving her to care for her family of 11 children. She died on 27 March 2000.[8][1]
References
- ^ a b c d Forrest, Peter (11 April 2000). "Empress of NT: Sue Wah Chin". The Northern Territory News.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9804578-1-0.
- ^ "Evacuation list" (PDF). Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. p. 34. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Sue Wah Chin Building & footpath". NT Heritage Register. Heritage Branch, Northern Territory Government. April 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Sue Wah Chin Building". Northern Territory.com. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Calacouras, Nick (10 April 2007). "Building saved from the wrecking ball". Northern Territory News. p. 4.
- ^ "Site Details of Sue Wah Chin Building". NT Heritage Register. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- hdl:10070/218088.