Lau Shu Kwai or George Quay as he was also known was described by novelist David Martin as being the ‘trustee of the Chinese community’ after Thomas Ah Geang died in 1902.
Martin had spoken with Quay’s son and daughter-in-law, Herbert and Alma Quay in the early 1970s while researching Lambing Flat.
This description of his high status is borne out in the Chinese language newspapers of Sydney (Tung Wah Times) and Melbourne (Chinese Times) alongside Young’s newspapers and a Swiss music box that his grandson Max donated to the Young Historical Museum.
Popular amongst wealthy families from the 1840s to the 1890s, Swiss-made music boxes could play multiple songs on one cylinder.
Quay brought it with him when he migrated to Australia in the 1880s.
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In the 1895 Quay purchased land along Spring Creek with Thomas Ah Young and Ah Sing. According to his obituary, he had first set up a grocery store on Burrowa Street and later moved to Main Street.
This was where his store was located when he married Hannah Maude, second daughter of Thomas and Isabella Ah Young of Spring Creek who were ‘old and highly respected residents’ in 1900.
Quay likely came to Australia from the district of Tsang Shing.
He is noted as a donor of 2 pounds towards the construction of a school in this district in 1906.
This school was being built in the village of Tong Mei which is probably his home village.
He also donated to the Tung Tsang Loong Yee Tong which was the joint community association in Sydney for people from Tung Kwun and Tsang Shing districts.
His interests in China extended beyond his native district as he was one of the Young Chinese community’s leading donors towards flood-relief in 1908 and 1914, had three shares in Canton’s Kwok Sze Po newspaper, a share subscription for the Canton-Hankow Railway construction project and in 1932 donated in support of the Republic of China during the Sino-Japan War.
He was also interested in the Chinese diaspora in Australia, subscribing to Melbourne’s Chinese Times He was a regular subscriber over the years to Young’s Burrangong Hospital, donated to the building of the Young School of Arts, donated to the building of the new Methodist Church in Young in 1909, and donated sand bags to the local branch of the Red Cross during World War I, amongst other philanthropic activities.
Quay spent the last 11 months of his life living with his son Les and daughter Edna at Bondi, dying at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney in 1942.
Thanks to Ely Finch, historical linguist and translator, for his work on the Chinese Australian newspaper sources.
Young Historical Society – Karen Schamberger
