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Lin Yik Tong or Chinese Commercial Association (1892 - 1903)

From
1892
To
1903

Details

W.R.G. Lee initially established the Chinese Commercial Association to act as an agent for Gibbs, Bright shipping company. Representatives of eight Sydney Chinese import and export trade firms sat on the board which was run democratically. Quong Tart was one of its prominent members. They quickly expanded their business and became agents for a number of other firms. The commission they received was used to fund their charitable activities. The objective of the association was to do charitable work, promote business relations among merchants and mediate disputes in the Chinese community.

It was the first commercial association which crossed county group affiliations. Merchants from the See Yup, Chung Shan, Tung Kuan, Chang Shen and Go You were equally represented. However the group did not represent all Sydney Chinese merchants and aroused resentment and opposition from those excluded from its management. It was critised for its limited membership, particularly by members of the New South Wales Chinese Empire Reform Association.

The Association eventually dissolved after the untimely death of Quong Tart and the departure of W.R.G. Lee's family to China in August 1903.

After dissolving the group was reformed by supporters of the rival New South Wales Chinese Empire Reform Assocation and became the New South Wales Chinese Merchants' Society (1903-1912) which in 1913 became the New South Wales Chinese Chamber of Commerce (1913-1965).

Sources used to compile this entry: Fitzgerald, Shirley, Red Tape and Gold Scissors [Chinese language version.], 1996; Fitzgerald, Shirley, Red Tape and Gold Scissors: The Story of Sydney's Chinese, State Library of NSW Press, Sydney, 1996; Lydon, Jane, Many Inventions: The Chinese in the Rocks 1890-1930, Monash Publications in History, Clayton, 1999; Yong, C.F., New Gold Mountain: The Chinese in Australia 1901-1920, Raphael Arts, South Australia, 1977.

Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University

Timeline

 1892 - 1903 Lin Yik Tong or Chinese Commercial Association
        New South Wales Chinese Empire Reform Association
       1903 - 1912 New South Wales Chinese Merchants' Society
             1903 - 1912 New South Wales Chinese Merchants' Society

Associated with

Related Places

Archival Collections

State Library of New South Wales - Mitchell Library

  • Quong Tart and family papers (1831-1940), ML MSS 5094; State Library of New South Wales - Mitchell Library. Details

Published Resources

Books

  • Fitzgerald, Shirley, Red Tape and Gold Scissors [Chinese language version.], 1996. Details
  • Fitzgerald, Shirley, Red Tape and Gold Scissors: The Story of Sydney's Chinese, State Library of NSW Press, Sydney, 1996. Details
  • Lydon, Jane, Many Inventions: The Chinese in the Rocks 1890-1930, Monash Publications in History, Clayton, 1999. Details
  • Yong, C.F., New Gold Mountain: The Chinese in Australia 1901-1920, Raphael Arts, South Australia, 1977. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • '[photograph and untitled article about On Lee's return to China]', The Sketch, 4 May. Details

Images

Title
Lin Yik Tong, Merchant Society of Sydney (seated and standing)
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 1902 - c. 31 January 1903
Place
Australia - New South Wales - Sydney
Details

Created: 11 July 2001, Last modified: 11 November 2005