Media Release

August 17 2009

Celebrating SA’s first champion of China trade

Pioneering SA businessman, Yet Soo War Way Lee More than a decade after the start of the Australian gold rush and some time before the infamous Boxer Rebellion, Yett Soo War Way Lee, the 22-year old son of a Chinese rice miller, arrived in Australia.

Against a backdrop of rising racism towards the Chinese, Way Lee was to make an important impact on the budding Adelaide business community, introducing the State to the notion of international trade with China and the benefits of multicultural engagement.

On August 21 it will be 100 years since the death of Way Lee and UniSA will mark the occasion with a special reception at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery in the Hawke Building at City West campus from 6.30 pm, where a monograph published by UniSA’s Professor Roger Burritt, Dylan Walker and Amanda Carter will be launched, commemorating Way Lee’s life, his contribution to business development in South Australia and the international spirit he promoted.

Professor Burritt, Director of the Centre for Accounting, Governance and Sustainability at UniSA, says he would not be surprised if many South Australians were unaware of the impact of Way Lee on both the business and community life of early Adelaide, but that his story is rich with intrigue, success, endeavor, politics, prejudice and the triumph of Way Lee, the man.

“Way Lee was a new migrant who adapted quickly to his environment,” he says. “He came to this country with very little and started up a small importing business Way Lee and Co, based originally in Hindley Street, selling tea, china and other goods, but branching out to Currie Street, Quorn, Hawker and Millicent, Broken Hill, Beltana, Wilcannia, Wentworth and Menindie in NSW and Daly River in the Northern Territory.”

“He studied English at the Adelaide City Mission, married a local woman, expanded his business and his influence and maintained positive trade relations with China. Before long he was contributing to the wider community – supporting new jobs, public events and charities and pioneering and financing public celebrations such as the first Chinese New Year celebrations of 1886 for SA members of Parliament and their guests.”

Prof Burritt says Way Lee’s story is iconic.

“The migrant experience is a deep and constant thread in the fabric of South Australia,” he says.

“Just as his entrepreneurial approach and his determination to fit in and contribute to his new community are a hallmark of the migrant experience, so are some of the darker elements. Way Lee struggled to overcome prejudice and fought-off two false criminal accusations, mounted by anti-Chinese political forces.

“At the end of his life though, his persistence, his advocacy for fair acceptance and his commitment to his new home - to charity and community engagement - found him widely respected and honoured.”

Way Lee fathered four children with his Australian wife Annie McDonald and many of their descendents, including his great grand daughter, Patricia Monaghan-Jamieson, will attend the centenary of Way Lee’s death in August 100 years ago.

This special event will also be attended by Lieutenant Governor Hieu Van Le; Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Michael Atkinson MP; HSBC Senior Manager, Commercial Banking SA, Irene Yu and Winnie De Silva, Business and Development Trade and Supply for HSBC Bank Australia; Director of Equity and Diversity at Sydney University, Dr Sev Ozdowski, OAM, FAICD; Janet Chin-Ng from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and many representatives from SA’s Chinese community.

The publication of the monograph and the anniversary celebrations have been supported through the generosity of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce South Australia Inc, the South Australian Government’s Department of Trade and Economic Development, Tee Lee Travel, and PNG Consultancy & Associates and UniSA.