Quong Tart: Chinese Australian Who Played the Bagpipes

Quong Tart, born in 1850 in China, would become one of Sydney's most famous and beloved personalities and philanthropists.

His story in an interesting one. 

Born in 1850 in a small village of Guangdong province, China, Quong Tart came to Australia in 1859 with his uncle and other miners to the goldfields near Braidwood, NSW.

Quong Tart's uncle found Quong a job at the general store of Thomas Forsyth and his wife at Bell's Creek, some 20 kms from Braidwood, where he learned basic accounting and business practices.

The Forsyth's also taught Quong English, but with the Scottish accent in which they spoke.

Alice and Robert Percy Simpson, who owned land and mining claims in the area, then virtually adopted Quong, who would ride about on a horse with Mr Simpson. 

Quong continued his education with the Simpsons and became a devout member of the Anglican Church.

Robert Simpson gave Quong a land claim, and Quong found gold. 

By the time he was 18 Quong had built a house next to the Simpsons. (Quong employed 200 Chinese and Europeans)

Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 18 April 1874,

Many Chinese came to Australia during this period, and the cheap and plentiful labour force incited public protests, which escalated into racist opposition. 

Quong, calm of character and fluent in Mandarin and English, was able to navigate European and Chinese ways.

Quong had the dress and manners of an English gentleman, and would preform Scottish songs on his bagpipe.

"Quong could sing Scotch songs, recite Burns

with the proper accent, play Scotch airs on the piano. 

He was naturalised in 1871, and was
the first Chinese to join an Oddfellows' Lodge in New South Wales.
Later he became a Forester and a Freemason."

Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser (NSW : 1904 - 1929), Tuesday 13 February 1912

In 1887, the Simpsons moved to Sydney, and they invited Quong to accompany them.

In 1881, Quong returned to China and set ups a tea trade to Sydney.

He then established a chain of silk stores and tea shops. 

Quong married an English school teacher, Margaret Scarlett, on 30 August 1886. The couple had two sons and four daughters, who were baptised in different denominations to avoid charges of prejudice.

Quong Tart and his wife Margaret Scarlett who was a teacher at Araluen., NSW

Quong Tart's Elite Hall in the Queen Victoria Market Building was formally opened by the Mayor of Sydney in 1898.

In 1889, Quong Tart opened a grand Tearoom with marble fountains and ponds with golden carp at 137 King Street, Sydney.

In December 1889, Quong Tart opened the Loong Shan Tea Giyse at 137 King Street, Sydney, NSW. It was his grandest Tea room, with marble fountains and ponds with golden carp.

Quong Tart's tea rooms were also located at 777 George St, in Moore Park Zoo, and the Haymarket theatre district.

Quong Tart and his family lived in a mansion called "Gallop House" in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield.

On 19 August 1902, Sydney was appalled when Quong Tart was bashed with an iron bar and robbed at his office in the Queen Victoria Building. Frederick Duggan was jailed for 12 years for the crime.

Quong Tart died from pleurisy 11 months later, on 26 July 1903, aged 53.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE QUONG TART, ASHFIELD, JULY 28, 1903, .Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 5 August 1903