A Sign Of The Times

Furniture businesses were becoming a respected industry during the 1900s. Both European and Chinese furniture stores were in fierce competition within the small developing city of Brisbane. In her thesis, The Brisbane Overseas Chinese Community 1860s to 1970s: Enigma or Conformity (2005), Joan Fisher states “only 34 of the 481 men gave their occupation as a cabinet maker or something similar such a polisher.” She also explains that the “business began as Mee Lee and Sons.” Fisher goes on to say, “before 1900, the Chinese factories were small scale enterprises employing only a few workers. It was only later in the 1900s that Mee Lee’s firm grew to compete with European firms in Brisbane.”

A better life was indeed something Mee Fook achieved. He had a respected and well-known business. Mee Lee Furniture could both provide for his family and was profitable enough to sponsor others to come to Australia. In the Australian Archives “Applications for Registration under the War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916 – Chinese” nine of his employees register Mee Lee furniture to be both their place of work and place of residence. It seems that Mee Fook was a a generous man, who not only provided employment but also a accommodation for his employees. Mee Fook proved to be a savvy business man and a keen member of the Chinese community.

Interestingly, in newspaper articles from the time Mee Lee Furniture is referred to as Mee Lee Bros. It is not known why, as neither of his business partners, Mee Sing in 1881 nor Day Sum in 1882, were Mee Fook’s brother. A plausible answer could be that it was in vogue with European furniture businesses as the time. Or simply it was the style in which newspapers referred to businesses in general.

As the business grew in prominence, so did the name Mee Lee.As seen in these newspaper articles.

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Now with a well-known developed business, Mee Fook was able to return to China to visit his eldest children in 1918. It was in 1918 that the first official documentation of the surname Mee Lee can be seen. Interestingly in Mee Fook’s application to visit China, only one name is used, whereas his children have two. Perhaps it was common for children to adopt a Western name, while still maintaining their Chinese name. This is understandable as the White Australia policy was still in effect.

Between 1918 and 1948, the Wong last name appeared to officially change to Mee Lee. The reason behind this is not known, it could be due growing associatation 'Mee Lee' to this one family. Another element could be the confusion with having two last names. When speaking about this, Lucy Mee Lee recalled "some people get nasty and say 'oh Lucy's mother married twice. That's why she's got two names. But they just don't understand." Australia during this time would have been a difficult place to live, especially when you are migrating from a non Anglo-Saxon country. Assimilation is an important process for any migrant, and even more so when your business is customer based. Whatever the reason, the family was now known as Mee Lee. This can be seen in the passport of Mee Fook’s granddaughter Lai Ching. Lai Ching was one of the older daughters who left behind in China. She arrived in Australia in 1948.