Ah Moy

Ah Moy (1836–1908), Chinese storekeeper (proper name Ng Lin Moy, married name Ng Yat Leung) came from Kam Shek Chuen village, Dao Tung, Sze Yup, Taishan. He arrived in Victoria in May 1879, and spent six months in the Bendigo/Beechworth area before going to Launceston in October. He settled in the area of Branxholm at Ruby Flat, and brought out his wife, Ah Hong, from China. Together they had eight children, all born in Tasmania.

Ah Moy kept a store in Branxholm, most likely to provide Chinese foodstuffs to local Chinese miners and to arrange postage and remittance of money to China. The store also acted as the family's house. When restored, it will form part of the Tin Dragon Chinese Heritage Trail. Ah Moy is buried in the Branxholm cemetery.

Further reading: Tasmanian Pioneers Index, AOT; Moy family clan book provided by descendants of Ah Moy; PRO Victoria Inward Passenger list, Foreign Ports 1870–1879, VPRS 8669 F31879, Fiche Reference: F 177 p 001; H Vivian, Tasmania's Chinese Heritage: An Historical Record of Chinese Sites in North East Tasmania , Launceston, Australian Heritage Commission/Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, 1985.

Adrienne Petty