Category: Percydale

Ah Kin How Qua (1829-1873)

In the 1850s the Victorian colonial government appointed Chinese interpreters on the goldfields. The great rushes of the 1850s included many thousands of Chinese; interpreters would assist in their administration, especially in legal matters.

One of Victoria’s Chinese interpreters , Ah Kin How Qua, was a young Cantonese, 25 years old, who for the previous ten years had lived in England.

Ah Kin How Qua was born in Canton in 1929. In 1843 he left China to live and study in England until 1854. In February 1854 he arrived in Victoria, Australia, aboard the ‘Invincible‘ and immediately set out for the goldfields.

In January 1855 How Qua gave evidence to the Commission to enquire into the conditions of the Gold Fields of Victoria. His appointment as interpreter followed shortly afterwards. He was frequently called upon to help in court. For example he was the interpreter in the 1857 trial at Avoca concerning the murder of a Chinaman known as Ga Poo.

How Qua applied for naturalisation on 25 August 1861.

Naturalisation petition 2nd page
National Archives of Australia NAA: A712, 1861/U7248 Howqua, Ah Kin – Naturalisation

He stated he was born in Canton in 1829. He had emigrated to England in 1843 where he resided for eleven years and where he embraced the Christian religion. He arrived in Victoria in 1854 on the Invincible (Johnston master). He was engaged in gold mining. In 1855 he was appointed Government Chinese Interpreter in 1855 and is now in the service of the Government as an interpreter at Avoca. He was seeking naturalisation so as to be able to hold real estate as well as to possess other rights.

In 1858 How Qua married Eleanor ‘Ellen’ Caroline Derrick. Eleanor’s family had migrated from Somerset, England; she arrived in Victoria as a 15 year old 1856.

Their children were :

  1. William 1859–1862 died young
  2. Henry 1862–1942
  3. James 1864–1870 died young
  4. Clara 1867–1936
  5. Louisa 1871–1952
  6. Eleanor “Ellen” 1872–1950
  7. Albert 1874–1949

In 1864 How Qua was one of the founding members of the Loyal Avoca Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, a friendly society set up to protect and care for its members and the community. At that time, of course, there was no welfare state or government health service.

How Qua was pictured with fellow Lodge members in his regalia.

Memebers of the Loyal Avoca Lodge of Oddfellows
Ah Kin HOWQUA Member of the Loyal Avoca Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, one of the few original members who were initiated at the opening of the Lodge.
Photo uploaded to FindAGrave by user Blask.

In the early 1870s How Qua and his wife Ellen established and ran the Percydale Hotel at Fiddlers Creek in the District of Avoca. It stayed in the family for many years after his death.

Avoca Mail (Vic.), Tuesday 18 November 1873, page 2

Among the deaths which have occurred in the neighborhood, of very recent time, has to be mentioned that of Mr How Qua, of Percydale, who for many years has acted as Government interpreter of the Chinese language in this and the adjoining Districts. Of late years How Qua has held a publican's license for a house at Percydale, where he had built an assembly room and otherwise rendered his premises available for public accommodation, and here he has resided with his European wife and intelligent young family. A dread internal malady attacked him so virulently, that on the last occasion of his appearance in the Police Court, at Avoca, it was a matter of remark he looked as if death smitten. He became so ill that it was found advisable to try hospital treatment, and accordingly on Thursday last he was sent to the Amherst institution, where he was died on Saturday last. The deceased had been of course Christianized, and was a steady quiet man. How Qua had been for nine years a consistent member of the Loyal Avoca Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, attending as often as he could, and never having been what is termed "bad on the books." He was one of the few original members who were made and were initiated at the opening of the Lodge. The funeral of How Qua's remains, yesterday, was attended not only by a large number of his countrymen, but by many more of European residents of Percydale and Avoca, storekeepers and others to whom the deceased was for a long time known, and his brethren of the Lodge, to the number of about thirty, preceding the melancholy procession. The service at the grave was impressively read by the Rev E. K. Yeatman, M.A., the Church of England Minister, and the Oddfellows' funeral oration in the Lodge Rood and closing remarks at the grave were read by the N.G. of the Lodge, Mr James Brown. Ah Kin How Qua — for that was his full name — had had much more experience of England than is usual even among the more travelled Asiatics, and his interpretation of the language of the Chinese was uniformly relied on by judges and magistrates. Deceased was 44 years of age, and leaves a wife and several children to mourn his loss

Wikitree: Ah Kin How Qua (1829-1873)

Chinese New Year 1870

No title (1870, February 5). The Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 – 1900; 1915 – 1918), p. 2. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202429695

Avoca Mail 5 February 1870

The Chinese at Fiddler’s Creek, numbering over two thousand, are most enthusiastic in doing honor to the Mongolian new year. Open house in the business establishments is the order of the day while the continuous discharge of crackers and the consumption of Chinese brandy is said to be some thing fabulous. Scarcely a porker or foul, outside the Chinese Camp, is to be had for love or money ; a Mongolian, well acquainted with the facts, states that purchases in the shape of pigs alone have been made at Fiddler’s Creek within the last fortnight to the amount of £1000.

…

Yesterday was the opening day of the Chinese new year, but it passed off very quietly, the grand festivities and fireworks exhibition being reserved till the next new moon. The joss houses were all lighted up, however, and the usual new year’s offer ings of pastilles, etc., were made to the images of Buddha in the different temples, while the moral precepts of the bouses, lamas, and charamen were read out to the devotees by the officiating high priest. As an example of the superstition of the Celestials with regard to ” luck” may be men tioned the fact that Ah Soon, who was to have been charged at the City Court on Monday with deserting his family, through the efforts of his country men obtained the boon of a postponement of his case until to-day, as he believed that if obliged to attend a court of law on New Year’s Day he would inevitably be involved in litigation during the whole ensuing year. Many Europeans could plead guilty to a somewhat similar superstition, though the doctrine of the observance of omens does not, as with the Chinese, form an article of faith.

Fiddlers Creek was renamed Percydale in 1873 and was formerly called Grantsvale

Grantsvale, Fiddler’s Creek (Percydale)

Avoca Mail (Vic.), Saturday 27 February 1869, page 3

FIDDLER’S CREEK.
(From our own correspondent.)
February, 26th, 1869
Our rising township, Grantsvale, is growing rapidly ; there are no less than eight stores, one bakery, one fruitshop, three blacksmiths’ shops, three butchers’ shops, a public house, a billiard saloon, and several other business places in course of erection, besides Chinese gambling and opium houses. Stands in the street are in great demand and are selling at a high premium. There are many complaints respecting the Chinese working on Sundays, and in the forest the perpectual echo of the axe is heard all day, but the greatest nuisance is the foul odour emitted from their camping ground.

The deep lead is progressing at both ends. I am happy to report, better than ever. There is great activity at the lower end since the arrival of a great many Spring Creek miners ; the tape line is the order of the day, and several pieces of spare ground have been taken from Chinamen, and the lease taken up has been rushed in every direction. A Chinese party bottomed last week on a mullock bank, and the hole was pronounced a duffer. John took his windlass off to lead the Europeans astray, but as soon as the ground was vacant their own tribe soon took up the claims, when it was discovered they had obtained 1/2 oz. to the load. Costick and party sunk a prospecting claim, this making the third one,and got a payable prospect. Moore and party bottomed near M’Graths’ store, this party came from Spring Creek and got a piece of spare ground right in the heart of the lead, adjoining the original prospectors ; and M’Grath’s claim below them got a magnificent specimen of quartz and gold, weighing 18dwts. At the upper end, Messrs Catchpole and party obtained 4 1/2 dwt to the load with five feet of dirt. This claim will pay handsomely when blocking out is commenced. Higher up, Gunn and Co., bottomed with a capital prospect of coarse gold, 1 dwt piece besides fine gold to the dish, and four Chinese parties bottommed still higher up with similar results, The lead is more defined and coarser gold is found at this end, but I am sorry to say the ground is all taken up, to the old workings. Messrs Shaw and Sylvia, puddlers, washed five different lots for Chinamen, which averaged 8dwt to the load, but their water is exhausted. The universal cry is ” water,” and but for this deficiency the miners are well satisfied, as also are the business men.

New adventures in our reefs are turning up every week, the old Darling Reef, near Donkey Hill, has been taken up by Walter Rodwell and party, and is turning out some splendid stone, estimated to yield over an ounce to the ton.

FIDDLER’S CREEK. (1869, February 27). The Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 – 1900; 1915 – 1918), p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article252153237

Roses for sale – now sold out

Sold out!

For Sale:  Rose bushes propagated from cuttings taken during pruning of the roses along the front fence of Daly’s Cottage, 

some in 8” and some 10” plastic pots. $10 each collected at Avoca. Limited quantity.