From Bananas to Department Stores

For centuries, the main sea routes travelled by the Chinese have been the southern seas and oceans. They have settled in every part of the Pacific, from nearby countries to the southern-most countries of Australia and New Zealand. A number of stories have been told of those who came to Australia. Here is one of those remarkable stories as told by Gordon Mar. His story begins with some early Chinese from Zhongshan County, including Gordons' forebears, founding a fruit store in 1890 in Haymarket. How this business, Wing Sing & Co., not only became a thriving fruit and banana business for nearly a century but how some of these merchants branched into establishing the 'big four' Shanghai and Hong Kong department stores: Sincere, Wing On, The Sun and Sun Sun, is a most fascinating tale.

For all enquiries please contact:

Jennifer Kwok, General Manager MOCA 

Email: jennifer.kwok@moca.com.au

Tel: 0468 320 888