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Young, George (c. 1835 - c. 1901)

Gallery

Born
c. 1835
Guangdong Province, China
Died
c. December 1901
China
Occupation
mining manager
Alternative Names
  • En Young Fun (full Chinese)
  • Kee Yung (full Chinese (surname only))
  • Zuo Zhi Yang (pinyin)
  • 左治羊 (simplified Chinese characters)

Details

George Young arrived in Australia in 1856-7 and settled in Eaglehawk where he was the mining manger in a firm that extracted gold from tailings using cyanide. In 1917 it was recalled by the Eaglehawk manager of the Commercial Bank of Australia that he employed about 70 men in his firm. In 1884 he successfully applied through Sergent John Gleeson for Victorian naturalisation. His application was processed along with five others.

According to an article in the Australasian he was 'highly respected' in Eaglehawk for his 'uprightness and integrity'. The Bendigo Advertiser described him as being 'held in high esteem' and being 'a kind and benevolent man'. He made donations to the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum and Hospital on a number of occasions and was involved in organising the Chinese performance in the Bendigo Easter Fair in 1879.

In June 1900, after his elder brother's death in 1899, George Young returned to China at his father's request to manage the family property. His Chinese-born wife and six Australian-born children accompanied him. Prior to his departure a portrait of the Young family was published in the Australasian and given to prominent citizens of Eaglehawk. A banquet was also given by the citizens of Eaglehawk to see the family off and George Young was presented with an illuminated address.

The Bendigo Advertiser were quick to publish a glowing eulogy of his life after George Young died in China in December 1901.

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Prosperous Chinese miner [photograph]', Australasian, 31 March 1900, p. 703; Victorian Births, deaths and marriages; NAA(Vic), MP56/12, item 6; NAA(Vic), A712, 1884/B4266; NAA(Vic), B13/0, 1917/3260; Personal communication, Ray Wallace, 26 November 2004; Bendigo Advertiser, 23/5/1876, 23/12/1901 (courtesy Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo Advertiser index).

Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University

Family

Published Resources

Newspaper Articles

  • 'Prosperous Chinese miner [photograph]', Australasian, 31 March 1900, p. 703. Details

Images

Title
George Young
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 21 February 1900
Place
Australia - Victoria - Eaglehawk
Details
Title
George Young (En Young Fun) and family
Type
Photograph
Date
31 March 1900
Place
Australia - Victoria - Eaglehawk
Details

Created: 9 October 2003, Last modified: 20 October 2005