Curio

State Library of New South Wales

On Gay, Chinese shopkeeper at Hill End

1870-1875
Glass photonegative

On Gay owned a drapery and general store in Clarke Street, Hill End. In his memoirs, Remembered with Pride, miner Mark Hammond observed that ‘The appearance of some of the Chinese had considerably altered from what it was … many of them were now adopting European costumes’.

Johnny Chinaman - By Carolyne Bruyn

1.

New country, new clothes

but the sleeves cover my hands.

The coat does not fit.

2.

A furled umbrella

can block out the sun and rain.

Even far mountains.

3.

My house and garden

empty of wife and children

the weeds will grow fast

4.

Day and night the mill

roars its majesty abroad

my spirit whimpers

after On Gay, storeowner, c1872 a2823541