The ‘Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage Project’ at UWA takes a biographical approach by weaving snippets from historical sources to uncover stories about Chinese people who came to Western Australia.
In addition to a publicly accessible research portal, the project will also involve a series of podcasts, an exhibition, events and a book.
This series of articles profiles the many surprising stories being discovered and recorded as part of this history project.
Please be aware that the some of the quotes use language from the time thar includes terms that would not be acceptable today.
See Wah Furniture Factory
by Lucy Hair
See Wah & Co. Ltd furniture company was registered in March 1904. Operating from 10 Dyer Street in West Perth, it had a total capital of £1,000 in 1000 £1 shares. Yuen Hoy Poy and Yuen Kum were the main partners in the business. The company was backed by British investors Frank Harper, F. Baumber and R.W. Finch.
Under the Factories Act, 1904, there were restrictions on operating hours, the employment of Chinese labour and mandatory annual factory registration. Chinese furniture factories had to stamp their products with ‘Asiatic labour’ under the conditions of the Act. Chinese factories were often targeted under the various Health Acts and particularly the Factories Act of 1904 in attempts to curtail their businesses.
In 1905, the Minister, ‘refused registration on the ground that it was an Asiatic company’. See Wah & Co challenged the Minister’s decision. Newspapers of the day reported the detailed legal arguments as the case progressed through the courts. Although the outcome was not favourable for See Wah & Co, they managed to keep trading and were profitable, donating regularly to charities such as the Perth Children’s Hospital.
In October 1912, See Wah & Co. sought permission to construct a warehouse in Railway Parade, West Perth on Town Lot S19 ‘showing a wood and iron wall on the north side’. Approval was granted as by December 1912 correspondent ‘Autolyeus’ relayed his thoughts on the construction of the building and referred to Chinese people in derogatory terms.
The new building was ‘most commodious, and thoroughly up-to-date’ and ready by February 1913. The tough restrictions under the Factories Act may have contributed to See Wah only operating for another six years after the new building was constructed. The premises was sold around mid-1919 and it is thought that the company dissolved around this time.
See Wah & Co. operated for around 15 years and employed many Chinese workers. Through the ‘Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage in Western Australia’ project, more than 20 men who worked at the See Wah factory have been identified and their biographies can be found on our digital portal.
Interested readers are encouraged to explore the UWA research database and other aspects of the project at: www.chinesewa.net/.
As research material is being added constantly, the project team would love to hear from anyone with information about early Chinese migrants.
