Mr Chung-Gon was one of the organisers of the Chinese dragon procession held in Launceston to raise money to develop the Cataract Gorge grounds. He was also responsible for collecting from the Chinese community a substantial donation towards the operating theatre in the old Launceston General Hospital. About three years ago he was a prime mover in having the Chinese Joss House moved from Weldborough to the Queen Victoria
Those
who have met Mr Chung-Gon are fortunate. By his friendly manner, he
makes a visitor feels impelled to return his friendliness and seek his
esteem. Born in Kwangtung province, South China, in one of the
large tea growing districts, Mr Chung-Gon, as a lad, obtained work on a junk
which took the tea to Hong Kong for transport to America and
Australia. In this way he heard of the gold rush in Australia and
saw alluring advertisements of shipping companies seeking passengers to fill
the tea ships.
As
a young man of 18, James Chung-Gon set off for a new land with 20 dollars in
his pocket, but an old Chinese advised him that he would only need a shilling,
and he sent the 20 dollars home. If he expected the hand of
fellowship when he landed in Sydney, he was disappointed. Larrikins
stoned him as he set off to visit kinsmen and he had to wait for
darkness. The reception was as hostile in Melbourne, and the young
Chinese engaged a cab.
The fare absorbed his only shilling, and so James Chung-Gon arrived
in a strange city in his quaint Chinese clothes,without money and unable to
speak a word of English.
The
cab had taken him to Chinese friends, however. They equipped him
with European clothes, and put £3 in his pocket to help him on his way to the
Bendigo gold diggings. The rough life and hostility did not suit
him, and he grapsed the opportunity to go to Tasmania with Chinese
friends. He found the Tasmanian people very friendly, and has been
in this State ever since, except for ocassional trips to China.
With
his six Chinese friends, he went to the tin fields in the Branxholm district,
walking most of the way. They worked on tribute for an
Englishman. Mr Chung-Gon then went to Lefroy gold fields to work
for a Chinese market gardner. He left that job and began cutting
wood for 2/6 ton. The danger of felling trees single-handed decided
him to try other employment, and he retuned to Launceston to buy vegetables
from Europeans and hawked them.
Mr Chung-Gon would carry two full baskets weighing about 120
lbs each to St. Leonards because there were no gardens in the district, and he
could get good
prices.
Later
he began a small market garden near Royal Park, and then worked larger gardens
between York and Brisbane streets. Business improved, and he
started a 10 acre garden where Coronation Park is now. He employed
10 countrymen and had 3 handcarts supplying vegetables to all the hotels, shops
and the Launceston General Hospital. Able to understand more
English, Mr Chung-Gon listened to the Gospel preached in the streets on Sunday,
and became a Christian.
Friends thought the young, industrious Chinese,
by now a naturalised British subject, should find a wife, so he left his
business in the hands of countrymen and returned to China to be
married. He did not stay long in China, but returned to Tasmania
with other Chinese who wanted to try their fortunes in "the new goldern
opportunity country". Some of them could grow tabacco, and
started a plantation at Deloraine, but the climate was too cold.
A year later Mr Chung-Gon set out with a neighbour friend,
the late Frank Walker, to go tin prospering on the North-East
Coast. They pegged out 100 acres of rich tin-bearing country at Mt.
Cameron. Eventually sold out to a Melbourne company, the Colossal
Tin Mining Syndicate.
Mr Chung-Gon received £600 for his interest, and bought 200
acres of land at Turner Marsh, near Lilydale, he planted it with cherry plum,
apple and pear trees, and sold most of the fruit for export to the Victorian
goldfields. His orchard was one of the first commercial orchards in
Northern Tasmania. He planted a large acreage in potatoes which
were sold at that time 180lb. bags for 5/- .
Most of his neighbours were mill hands with small farms, who
first thought that the Chinese would steal their fowls, but eventually became
good friends, and would arrange with Mr Chung-Gon to do the shopping.
After a few years Mr Chung-Gon built a house on the land, and
sent for his wife who was in China. On this property most of Mr
Chung-Gon's 11 children were born. Mrs Chung-Gon wanted to take
them to China to be educated, and to see her parents, who were growing
old. So Mr Chung-Gon sold his farm and moved to Launceston, in
readiness to return to China. As a war broke out however , they
remained in Tasmania.
Mr Chung-Gon carried on business from his Sandhill gardens,
and opened a fruit and vegetable shop for his children.