Asian Studies Program

Chinese Australia

Christian Missions to the Chinese in Australia and New Zealand, 1855 - c1900

This material was compiled from contemporary books and journals, the church and secular press and the archives of the Presbyterian, Anglican, Methodist and Catholic Missions to the Chinese.

In addition to the items included in the list, there were also Baptist Missions in Adelaide and Melbourne, as well as Salvation Army and Church of Christ missions. In New Zealand, the Hocken Library, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, holds a considerable amount of relevant material under the title of Influences of the Chinese.

Click on the Christian missions listed below to see the Chinese missionaries that worked there between 1855-c1900.

ECUMENICAL PROTESTANT

ANGLICAN

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

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ECUMENICAL PROTESTANT

Victoria Chinese Mission

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Castlemaine O Cheong Anglo-Chinese College HK 1855 Voluntary. Local government interpreter
Castlemaine Rev William Young London Missionary Society 1855-1858 Recruited LMS Batavia by Medhurst
Castlemaine Chu A Luk AngloChinese College HK 1855-1857 Also leader in SeeYup Society
Castlemaine Ho A Low AngloChinese College HK 1855-1856 Nephew of Rev Ho Fuk-tong LMS, pastor HK
Castlemaine Leong A Toe Anglo-Chinese College HK 1856-1858 -
Castlemaine Lo Sam-yuen St Paul's Anglican College HK 1856-1857 -

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Geelong and Western District Chinese Evangelisation Society

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Ballarat Lo Sam-yuen St Paul's Anglican College HK 1857-1859 Returned to China

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Smythesdale Chinese Mission

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Smythesdale ? Roberts Self-taught Cantonese 1857 Primary School Teacher,
Smythesdale Lui Fun-sing Victorian convert 1862 Methodist Convert Castlemaine

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ANGLICAN

Church Missionary Society of Victoria (Anglican)

NORTHEAST VICTORIA

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Yackandandah Lo Sam-yuen St Paul's Anglican College HK 1860-1861 Ordained Hong Kong 1863
Beechworth Fan A Wye Anglo-Chinese College HK 1860-1861 Already a Christian in China
Spring Creek Leong Pong Sien Victorian convert 1860-1861 Baptised Wesleyan C'maine
Indigo Lui Fun-sing Victorian convert 1863-5 mission closed

ST ARNAUD

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
New Bendigo James Lee Wah Victorian convert 1868-1869 to Sandhurst
Peter's Diggings Ah Hem Victorian convert 1870 -
Avoca Forest Paul Ah Fat Victorian convert 1871-1881 died 1881
Synnots Henry Ang Gook Victorian convert 1881-1886 Dismissed Oct 1886
Barkly Gee Chew Victorian convert 1886-1888 Dismissed
Four Mile Gully Tim Foon Victorian convert c1890 Died opium poisoning
Moliagul James Ah Ha - c1890 Dismissed
Berlin - - - visited from Bendigo

DAYLESFORD

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Hepburn Springs Timothy Ah Chee Victorian convert 1874-1879 ex St Arnaud - To Brisbane 1879
Sailor's Creek - - - -
Spring Creek A A Herbert Shangahi, China 1877 Superintendent (See Melbourne)
Stony Creek William Ching Wah Victorian convert 1879-1887 1882-85 Acting Superintendent
The Basin Paul Ah You Victorian convert 1886 -
Deep Creek Mark Ah Bon Victorian convert 1886-c1900 1898 to CMAV
Blanket Flat - - - visited
Yankee Gully - - - visited
Sherman Reef - - - visited
Kidd's Gully - - - visited
Table Hill - - - visited
Doctor's Gully - - - visited
Blind Creek - - - visited

BLACKWOOD

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Golden Point Peter Backsoo Victorian convert (St Arnaud) 1874-1879 Became opium addict
Red Hill Henry Ang Gook Victorian convert (St Arnaud) 1879-1881 -
Barry's Reef Matthew Leong Tong Victorian convert 1882-1883 died 1883
Simmon's Mark Ah Bon Victorian convert 1885-1886 -
Bacchus Marsh Paul Ah You Victorian convert 1886 -

SANDHURST (BENDIGO)

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Eaglehawk James Lee Wah Victorian convert (St Arnaud) 1870- c1900 1898 to 1909 with CMAV
Kangaroo Flat (St Stephens) William Ching Wah Victorian convert (Bendigo) 1869-1879 See Daylesford
Kangaroo Flat (St Stephens) James Ah Shin Victorian convert 1882-1885 dismissed. Church closed 1918
Ironbark Camp (St Barnabas) Philip Lew Tong Victorian convert, 1887-1912 -
Ironbark Camp (St Barnabas) Fung Gay Victorian convert 1901 -
Huntly Philip Lew Tong Victorian convert 1907- Diocese of Bendigo. Retired 1912
Inglewood - - - visited
Epsom - - - visited
Long Gully - - 1898-1901 visited
All Saints - - 1901-c1910 CMAV
St Paul's - - 1901-c 1910 CMAV
Echuca (Christ Church) - - 1901-c1904 CMAV

MARYBOROUGH

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Percydale Matthew Ah Get - - -
Percydale (Fong-Kwong Yat-sau) Vic Convert 1876-1880 - Ordained Hong Kong
Talbot visited - - -
Avoca Matthew Mok Doong - -
Avoca (also Mok Toon) Vic Convert 1876-1888 -
Avoca Moses Wong Ah Gon Victorian convert 1888 -
Avoca Philip Lea Tong Victorian convert 1888 -1894 -
Avoca James Lee Wah Victorian convert 1887-1900, 1901 Honorary from 1907
Avoca David Ng Victorian convert 1909-1918 -

MELBOURNE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Inner City Rev C L Chase Rev J Darling - 1857 Rented room. Lt Bke St.
Inner City A A Herbert missionary in Shanghai?? 1877-1878 Lay Superintendent, Dismissed.
Queensberry St Cheok Hong Cheong Presbyterian Theol Hall, Melb 1885-1896 CMSV
110 Lt Bourke St Cheok Hong Cheong Presbyterian Theol Hall, Melb 1896-1898 CMSV
111 Lt Bourke St Kwok Wai Shang CHC In London re Opium Society 1892 Temporary appointment
Ormond Cheok Hong Cheong - 1885-8 Murton Hall and Anglican.
Essendon Daniel Wong Victorian convert 1888 CMSVR. Cousin of CHC
East Brighton Daniel Wong Victorian convert 1891 -
Geelong visited C H Cheong-James Mouy Ling 1891-? interdenominational mission (CofE; Meth)

TASMANIA

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Tasmania Woo Poo Victorian convert - From Bendigo.

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Church Missionary Association of Victoria, 1897-1918

MELBOURNE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
110 Lt Bourke St David Ng - - -
111 Lt Bourke St Rev E J Barnett Principal Caulfield Gramm Sch 1892-1898 To Hong Kong 1898
Caulfield (St Catherine's) T W Barke Layman Parttime 1902-1909 died
Elsternwick (St Clement's) E Lee Neil Layman Parttime 1909-1914 War Service
Elsternwick (St Clement's) Rev J A Ball - 1914-1918 -
Essendon (Christ Church) - - - visited
Hawthorn (St Columbs) - - - visited
Kew (St Hilary's) - - - visited
Sandringham (All Souls) - - - visited

COUNTRY VICTORIA

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Bendigo (All Saints) - - - visited
St Paul's (Mission School) - - - visited

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Church Missionary Society of Victoria, reformed 1898 to present as the Anglican Chinese Mission of the Epiphany

MELBOURNE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Melbourne Cheok Hong Cheong Lay Superintendent 1898-1928 Building opened 1904
Melbourne Rev. James Cheong Ordained deacon London 1903. - -
121-123 Lt Bourke St Rev. James Cheong Priested Melbourne, 1904. Resigned 1910 Afterwards curate St Peter's Eastern Hill. d. 1941.
121-123 Lt Bourke St - - - -

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Anglican Missions to the Chinese, New South Wales

SYDNEY

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Sydney Wexford St Rev George Soo Hoo Ten - 1870s- ? Church pulled down c 1896
Botany King Tem - - To Brisbane 1888

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Anglican Missions to the Chinese, Queensland

BRISBANE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Brisbane Timothy Ah Chee Victorian convert (Vic) 1879 Dismissed 1881
Kelvin Grove King Tem - 1889 -

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WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH

Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: Victoria

CASTLEMAINE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Castlemaine - - - Took over VCM and Staff 1859
Castlemaine Leong A Toe Anglo-Chinese College HK 1858-1863 To China 1860, Returned 1861-3
Castlemaine Leong On Tong Victorian convert 1864-1886 Ordained. To China 1886
Castlemaine Peter Lee Wan Victorian convert - -
Castlemaine James Tong Wai Victorian convert 1888 Joined Pres, Ordained1889
Castlemaine James Lee Chung Victorian convert 1889-1897 To Bendigo
Castlemaine Thomas Mak Quong Victorian convert 1897 From Castlemaine

SANDHURST (BENDIGO)

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
(Bendigo) Peter Lee Wan Victorian convert 1888-1893 -
(Bendigo) Thomas Mak Quong Victorian convert 1893-1897 To Castlemaine
White Hills James Lee Chung Victorian convert 1897 From Castlemaine
White Hills - - - English language school
Inglewood - - 1900 visited
Echuca - - 1903 visited

MELBOURNE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Melbourne Rev Edward Youngman - From Goulburn, NSW. Superintendent. To NSW
(Lt Bourke St) Leong On Tong Victorian convert - Ordained. To China 1886.
(Lt Bourke St) James Lee Moy Ling Victorian convert - ordained. Retired 1902
East Brighton Paul Ng Soong Quong Victorian convert 1891 To Perth 1897
(Mckinnon Rd) Peter Lee Wan Victorian convert 1895-1897 -
Middle Brighton Paul Ng Soong Quong Victorian convert 1893 -
Brunswick - - 1893 visited
Coburg - - 1890 visited
Oakleigh - - 1890 visited
Richmond - - 1893 visited
Fitzroy North - - 1898 visited
South Yarra - - 1898 visited
Northcote - - 1899 visited
Geelong Cheok Hong Cheong (Anglican) - 1891? interdenominational mission
Geelong Rev James Moy Ling (Methodist) - - -

CRESWICK

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Creswick James Tong Wai Victorian convert 1887-1888 Ordained. Superintendent1902-49
Creswick Peter Lee Wan Victorian convert 1889-1895 -
Creswick Paul Ng Soong Quong Victorian convert 1895 To Perth 1897
Ballarat visited - 1891 -
Scarsdale visited - 1891 -
Haddon James Lee Chung Victorian convert >1887. Closed 1888-9. Church reopened, 1891
Talbot David Chin Ghin Victorian convert 1888-9 To China 1889. Reopended 1891

DUNOLLY

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Dunolly Thomas Mak Quong Victorian convert >1893 Closed
Dunolly Peter Lee Wan Victorian convert 1895 -
Bendigo - - - -
Tarnagulla - - 1887 visited
St Arnaud - - 1887 visited
Mt Moliagal - - 1891 visited
Avoca - - 1887 visited
Maryborough - - 1887 visited
Wangaratta Miss Ah Ket Layperson, part-time 1897 Sister of William Ah Ket
Benalla - - 1899 visited

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: New South Wales

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Tingha/Emmaville James Lee Tear Tack Victorian convert (Vic) 1893 Ordained.
Tingha/Emmanville Lock King - - -
Deniliquin visited - 1903 Appraisal visit, No action.

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: Northern Territory

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Darwin Rev Edward Youngman Ordained minister (NSW, Vic) 1890 -
Darwin Timothy Loi Foi Victorian convert 1890 -
Darwin Rev Joseph Lee Tear Tack Victorian convert - 1894-1899 To Cairns,

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: Western Australia

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Perth Paul Ng Soong Quong Victorian Convert 1897 -

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: Queensland

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Cairns Rev James Lee Tear Tack Victorian convert 1899 Died 1900
Cairns Rev E J Piper Retired missionary 1902 Ex Bible Christian Missionary, China
Cairns Willie Lin Foy Victorian convert 1902-1904 Retired to Kelvin Grv, Brisb.
Townsville - - - visited
Geraldtown - - - visited
Herberton - - - visited
Atherton - - - visited

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australia: Tasmania

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Launceston James Yee Keet Victorian convert (Vic) 1903 -
East Coast - - - visited
Burnie - - - visited
Beaconsfield - - - visited

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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia: New Zealand

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Canterbury Prov Daniel Lem Sheok Kee - - -

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Presbyterian Mission to the Chinese: Victoria

MELBOURNE

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Melbourne Rev James Ah Chue Anglican convert St Arnaud 9 July 1876 Baptised Napier Street Pres Ch
Melbourne John Young Wai Anglican convert - Presbyterian min-ister NSW
Melbourne Stephen (Choong, Ah Chung) Anglican convert - Returned to China worked CMS
Talbot, Warnambool Daniel Leong Tsi - 1894 visited

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Presbyterian Mission to the Chinese: New South Wales

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Araluen Valley Philip Lee Hyung Convert, Victoria 1879 -

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Presbyterian Missions to the Chinese: New Zealand

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Lawrence Paul Ah Chin Victorian convert - -
Otago Prov- Dunedin Rev Alexander Don - - b Bendigo Vic
Otago Prov- Dunedin Rev George McNeur - - -
Auckland - - 1894 -

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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Roman Catholic Mission to the Chinese: Ballarat, Vic

Place Missionary Training Service Comment
Ballarat Rev Joseph Lee Chinese College Naples 1860s From Macau.Trained in Naples.