Fang Cheong Loong & Co, Darwin

Fang Cheong Loong & Company at the end of Cavenagh Street Darwin owned by Chin Toy.

Fan Cheong Loony letterhead

Image Courtesy of: Territory Stories

Although illiterate, Chin Toy left home when he was about 18 to find work in Hong Kong where he spent two years in a tailoring apprenticeship. After befriending a businessman there, he accompanied him to Palmerston (Darwin) in early 1883. On arriving in Australia Chin Toy began work for an uncle who operated the tailoring store of Wing Cheong Sing & Company, which was situated in 'Chinatown' at the comer of Cavenagh Street. On completing two more years of his apprenticeship and qualifying as a cutter, Chin Toy left and opened his first business with his brother Chin Man Yee as his partner. Eventually after some disagreement with his brother, Chin Toy branched out on his own. He had managed to save a little money and with just a pair of scissors, he opened the store of Fang Cheong Loong & Company, which was situated at the end of Cavenagh Street behind Christ Church (now the Anglican Cathedral) where he also resided. This store specialised as merchant tailors, and general outfitters but expanded into grocery, fancy goods and an import and export business. He was to include his sons in the business and to offer a one fifth partnership to Chin Fon, who was the father of the late Harry Chan. As Chin Toy was illiterate, he left the management of the administrative side to Chin Fon. What started as a small business soon prospered and with much hard work ended up as one of the leading retail stores in Darwin.

Source: Chin Toy, Dictionary of Biography

Fang Cheong Loong letterhead p2.

Image Courtesy of: Territory Stories