Kwong Sue Duk
Encyclopedia
Kwong
Sue Duk, also known as Kwong See Tek, (鄺士德) (1853 – 17 February 1929) was a Chinese Australian
herbalist
and merchant
.
Kwong Sue Duk was born in Guangdong
Province, China
, in 1853. In his teens, he travelled to the California
n gold rush
where he made a modest fortune mining for gold. He returned home to Toishan, China, and embarked on an education in Traditional Chinese medicine
.
In 1874, Kwong Sue Duk married his first of four wives, Gee An Gow. In 1875, after the birth of his first son, Kwong Kong Sing, Kwong settled in Cooktown, Queensland
, Australia
, gateway to the Far North Queensland
gold rushes.
In 1882, Kwong returned from China to settle in Southport, Northern Territory
. Operating under his business name, Sun Mow Loong, he eventually established a successful general trade store and real estate enterprise. He was well respected and influential amongst the Chinese and European communities and was consulted over many matters concerning the Chinese.
In 1884, Kwong Sue Duk married his second of four wives, Chun Ngor Gwei, and obtained his naturalisation
certificate in Australia. Kwong moved to Palmerston (early Darwin
) and in March 1887 he met and married his third of four wives, Yuen Yuk Lau.
In 1889 he returned to China and brought out his first wife and three children to Palmerston. In January 1897, a tropical cyclone
damaged much of Palmerston, including Kwong's group of rental properties. His first wife had difficulty adjusting to the harsh conditions and in 1898 he travelled with her to China where she chose to remain with her four children.
In 1899, Kwong met and married his fourth wife, Wong Kwei Far, and returned with her to Palmerston. However, the damage of the cyclone and the generally depressed state of the Northern Territory economy left Kwong in a poor financial situation. In 1902 the family set up a store and business in Cairns, Queensland
where he sold mostly Chinese goods. In the back of the store he had an office where he dispensed Chinese herbal remedies.
In 1910 he returned from Hong Kong
to settle in Townsville, Queensland
, and in 1913 most of the family followed. Kwong established another successful Chinese herbal medicine practice in Little Flinders Street.
In 1917, Kwong made another major move to Melbourne
, Victoria (Australia)
. He continued his herbal medicine practice in Melbourne and country Victoria, including the townships of Ballarat and Bendigo.
In 1927, he retired to Townsville where he continued with his herbal medicine practice until he died at the age of 76 on the 17 February 1929.
Over his lifetime, Kwong Sue Duk fathered 22 children and adopted two children with his four wives. As of 2006, over 800 descendants in eleven countries trace their linage from Kwong Sue Duk. Kylie Kwong
is his great granddaughter. The Kwong Sue Duk Foundation arranges regular family reunions.
Kwong
Kuang , also Kwong, Kwang, Quong, Kong, and Fong, is a Chinese family name originated from central China. Today, it is the surname of over 5 million individuals, across China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Cuba,...
Sue Duk, also known as Kwong See Tek, (鄺士德) (1853 – 17 February 1929) was a Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian is an Australian of Chinese heritage. In the 2006 Australian Census, 669,890 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
herbalist
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
and merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
.
Kwong Sue Duk was born in Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in 1853. In his teens, he travelled to the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
where he made a modest fortune mining for gold. He returned home to Toishan, China, and embarked on an education in Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
.
Cooktown, Queensland
Cooktown is a small town located at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770. At the 2006 census, Cooktown had a population of 1,336...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, gateway to the Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
gold rushes.
In 1882, Kwong returned from China to settle in Southport, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. Operating under his business name, Sun Mow Loong, he eventually established a successful general trade store and real estate enterprise. He was well respected and influential amongst the Chinese and European communities and was consulted over many matters concerning the Chinese.
In 1884, Kwong Sue Duk married his second of four wives, Chun Ngor Gwei, and obtained his naturalisation
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
certificate in Australia. Kwong moved to Palmerston (early Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
) and in March 1887 he met and married his third of four wives, Yuen Yuk Lau.
In 1889 he returned to China and brought out his first wife and three children to Palmerston. In January 1897, a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
damaged much of Palmerston, including Kwong's group of rental properties. His first wife had difficulty adjusting to the harsh conditions and in 1898 he travelled with her to China where she chose to remain with her four children.
In 1899, Kwong met and married his fourth wife, Wong Kwei Far, and returned with her to Palmerston. However, the damage of the cyclone and the generally depressed state of the Northern Territory economy left Kwong in a poor financial situation. In 1902 the family set up a store and business in Cairns, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
where he sold mostly Chinese goods. In the back of the store he had an office where he dispensed Chinese herbal remedies.
In 1910 he returned from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to settle in Townsville, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and in 1913 most of the family followed. Kwong established another successful Chinese herbal medicine practice in Little Flinders Street.
In 1917, Kwong made another major move to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria (Australia)
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He continued his herbal medicine practice in Melbourne and country Victoria, including the townships of Ballarat and Bendigo.
In 1927, he retired to Townsville where he continued with his herbal medicine practice until he died at the age of 76 on the 17 February 1929.
Over his lifetime, Kwong Sue Duk fathered 22 children and adopted two children with his four wives. As of 2006, over 800 descendants in eleven countries trace their linage from Kwong Sue Duk. Kylie Kwong
Kylie Kwong
Kylie Kwong , is a prominent Australian television chef, author, television presenter and restaurateur.-Early life and education:...
is his great granddaughter. The Kwong Sue Duk Foundation arranges regular family reunions.