China Gift Store

The China Gift Store at No. 233A Rundle Street.

The China Gift Store

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"The China Gift Store" at No. 233A Rundle Street which opened in 1923 was owned by Gladys Sym Choon. The store sold Oriental Goods imported from China and agents in Australia. 

Gladys Sym Choon was a member of the Sym Choon family, who lived and operated as retail traders on Rundle Street from the 1920s to the 1980s. John Sym Choon, Gladys' father, was one of a small number of Chinese settlers in Adelaide in 1890.  Gladys opened her shop, China Gift Store at the age of 18. Gladys imported luxury goods from China, Southeast Asia and Russia.

The store was passed on to her daughter Mei Ling Niel in 1979 who managed it until 1985. The store was bought by fashion designer Abdul Razak Mohammed and his partner Joff Chappel, who renamed it 'Miss Gladys Sym Choon'.

Source: Historical Trust of South Australia

The China Gift Store

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