Wellington Chinese History Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Wong She and Co Fruit Merchants and Gilmers Millinery on the corner of Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street

Wong She and Co Fruit Merchants and Gilmers Millinery on the corner of Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street Wellington City Council Archives. (1920, ca). Wong She and Co Fruit Merchants and Gilmers Millinery on the corner of Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street. Retrieved July 2, 2019, from https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/13383

Opened by Wong Sik She in 1894 at 59 Cuba Street[1] on the corner with Abel Smith Street.[2]

Mini magick20200124-1-1n75t0n

Giblin, R. (2000). Sik Lowe Young and Ray Wong She outside fruiterers Wong She & Sons, Lambton Quay, Wellington—Photograph taken by Ross Giblin (Negative at EP/2000/2093/11) [Dye coupler print]. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22737531

MSTv001i001d19210711f0023p007-full

Chan Shiu Fong. (1921, July). Min Sheng Xun = The Man Sing Times. Auckland Library - Chinese Journals Projects, p. 7. http://www.nzchinesejournals.org.nz/collect/pagescjp/cgi-bin/pagescjp?e=01off-------101en-25-10-1-0--0-0-1&a=d&d=D1.12

On 3 November 1908, the Evening Post reported a donation from Wong She of £5 5s, to Wellington Hospital. The total sum raised by the Chinese residents was £111 8s[3][4]. This was also reported on 6 November, 1908, in the New Zealand Times.[4]

An advertisement in the Man Sing Times of July 1921 advertises fruit merchants Wong She & Co, as importers of Chinese silks, Crockery, Peanuts, Tea & Fireworks.[5][6]

VUW1925 48Spik082a

Victoria University College Review. (1925). The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1925. Retrieved August 6, 2017,from http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/VUW1925_48Spik-fig-VUW1925_48Spik082a.html

“Practical Sympathy,” New Zealand Times, November 6, 1908

An advertisement in the Victoria University College Review in 1925 stated that their fruit was high-class, coming directly from the orchards, and fresh vegetables arrived daily from the market gardens[7]. They also advertised free delivery, wholesale prices to colleges and welcomed patronage from students.[7]

The shops were later located at 261 Cuba Street, Te Aro[5][8], on the corner with Abel Smith Street (Operated by Ng Yew-sui from the 1920s, retaining the original name)[1] and 148 Lambton Quay.[7]

In 1928, Wong She & Company made a donation of £5 5s towards the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Fund.

Upon his return from China (late 1930s, early 1940s?), Young Shea Chan, a friend of the family, worked for Tom Wong She in the Lambton Quay shop.

Wong She & Co closed in 2000.[1]

Mini magick20200209-1-le0bh9

Lambton Quay ca 1925: Wong She & Son building, Wholesale & Retail Fruiterers at lower right. Evening Post. (ca1925). Lambton Quay—Wellington Streets (From box containing EP-0371 to 0384) [B&w original negative]. EP-0376-1/2-G. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE13260042&dps_custom_att_1=emu

EP-0376-1-2-G

Lambton Quay ca 1925 (Detail): Wong She & Son building, Wholesale & Retail Fruiterers at lower right. Evening Post. (ca1925). Lambton Quay—Wellington Streets (From box containing EP-0371 to 0384) [B&w original negative]. EP-0376-1/2-G. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE13260042&dps_custom_att_1=emu

Nlnzimage (4)

On the left is the New Occidental Hotel with Wm Beveridge as the proprietor. A sign on the hotel advertises `Speights prize ales always on tap'. On the right hand side on the street are: Nashs leather depot, The Royal Hotel, Hill Bros grocers, Hood Bros Ltd drapers and outfitters, and Wong She & Son. Smith, Sydney Charles. (1928). Victoria University capping parade, Lambton Quay, Wellington [1 b&w original negative]. PA-Group-00242: Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE76362&dps_custom_att_1=emu



  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tung Jung Association of NZ. (2018). The Tung Jung Association of New Zealand - People. Retrieved 4 July 2018, from http://www.tungjung.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=16&Itemid=31
  2. Wellington City Council Archives. (1920, ca). Wong She and Co Fruit Merchants and Gilmers Millinery on the corner of Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street. Retrieved July 2, 2019, from https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/13383
  3. Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1908 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19081103.2.77
  4. 4.0 4.1 “Practical Sympathy,” New Zealand Times, November 6, 1908, Volume XXX, Issue 6660 edition, Page 3, accessed October 29, 2021, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19081106.2.9.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Chan Shiu Fong. (1921, July). Min Sheng Xun = The Man Sing Times. Auckland Library - Chinese Journals Projects, p. 7. http://www.nzchinesejournals.org.nz/collect/pagescjp/cgi-bin/pagescjp?e=01off-------101en-25-10-1-0--0-0-1&a=d&d=D1.12
  6. Nationalist Party (China), Wellington Branch, New Zealand. (1921, July 11). 民​聲​報​ The Man Sing Times Volume 001 Issue 001. Retrieved 24 January 2019, from https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/?p=r&collection=p20062coll5&id=614&rec=1
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Victoria University College Review. (1925). The Spikeor Victoria University College Review September 1925. Retrieved August 6, 2017,from http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/VUW1925_48Spik-fig-VUW1925_48Spik082a.html
  8. Huang, J. (1913). International Chinese business directory of the world / compiled by Wong Kin. International Chinese Business Directory Co. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b440600;view=1up;seq=9

Categories[]

All Locations News
Iw-1872017131843639

All

Tasman Street - Section 715 - 1892 Survery Map WCC

Locations

A chinese Wedding-0

News

Organisations Businesses Advertisements
1-2-174498-F

Organisations

29887605231 e6565bdbff o

Businesses

Eph-A-HORTICULTURE-TeAro-1949-01-front

Advertisements

People
Iw-295201711574464

People

Help support the Wellington Chinese History project:

Buy me a coffee


Map[]

Scroll and zoom on the map to explore locations in Wellington of significance to the Wellington Chinese community.


Loading map...
Advertisement