Jimmy Ah Toy

Jimmy Ah Toy was the husband of Lily Ah Toy and father of Eddie Ah Toy, He bought Ah Toy Store in Pine Creek in 1935.

Jimmy Ah Toy

Image Courtesy of: Territory Stories

Jimmy Ah Toy was born in 1915. He was one of the ten children of Jimmy Ah Yu. He was raised in the Old Bakery in Pine Creek. Jimmy received education in Pine Creek Primary School. Jimmy Ah Yu and his son Jimmy Ah Toy baked bread for the community in Pine Creek. Later Jimmy Ah Toy and his brother went to Darwin and started a market garden at the Two and a Half Mile. In 1936 he married Lily Wong. After marrying, the couple moved to Pine Creek to work in the store owned by Jimmy's parents. They had five children, Edward, Laurence, Joyce, Grace and Elaine. At various times, they took on the responsibility of looking after Jimmy's younger brothers and sisters.

After the bombing of Darwin in 1942 Jimmy's family were evacuated to Adelaide where Jimmy worked in the munitions works and then in a canvas factory. They returned to Pine Creek in 1945 to re-open the general store. It was the first civilian store to open in the Top End after the war, providing vital services to prospectors, pastoralists, buffalo and crocodile hunters, and the local community. Lily managed this business by herself for four years while Jimmy helped to establish a general store (J Ah Toy & Co.) in Kunckey Street Darwin in 1947, before returning to Pine Creek. Jimmy and Lily's eldest son, Edward, took over the management of the Pine Creek business in 1955. In his later years, Jimmy acquired Claravale Station and Farm. He also involved in many community services and was awarded MBE in 1967 in recognition his contribution to Pine Creek community. Jimmy passed away in Darwin in 1991. He was buried in Darwin General Cemetery.

Source: Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography (Charles Darwin University Press) https://dcarment.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/ntdictionaryofbiography.pdf

Jimmy and Lily Ah Toy

Image Courtesy of: Territory Stories