Chan Dah Chee

Chan Ah Chee (born Chan Dah Chee; ; 1851–1930) was a Chinese market gardener in Auckland, New Zealand. He has been noted as one of the most significant pioneers in the early years of Chinese settlement.

Ah Chee established the successful fruit and vegetable company, Ah Chee & Co and was a notable figure in the establishment of early Chinese migration to Auckland. Joong was one of only nine recorded Chinese women in Auckland according to the 1881 census. She was also noted to be instrumental in the family's success due to her proficiency to read, write and speak English as well as Cantonese.

Ah Chee had five children, all of whom were born in Auckland. The first two children died at birth, Williiam Ah Chee (Chan Wah Fook) born in 1889, Clement Ah Chee (Chan Wah Dong) born in 1892 and Arthur Ah Chee (Chan Wah Ying) born in 1895.

He and his family lived in Parnell, where they grew a market garden, known as Kong Foong Yuen which translates to Garden of Prosperity.

Ah Chee retired in 1914, and left New Zealand with his wife for Guangdong in 1920. He lived in China until his death in 1930.

Career

Ah Chee established two centrally located fruit shops by 1880, under the name Ah Chee & Co: one on 13 Queen Street, across from The Auckland Chief Post Office, and the other across from the Auckland Ferry Terminal on the corner of Queen and Quay Street. The garden's soil of volcanic origin and its origins as a raupō swamp made it an ideal place to grow vegetables.

Other business ventures By the 1890s Ah Chee established other market gardens, notably in the Auckland suburbs of Epsom and in 1905, Ah Chee purchased 35 acres on Rosebank Road in the Auckland suburb of Avondale which served as another market garden.

By 1920, the land had been under the Ah Chee family's care for close to 30 years. At this point the land and buildings were given back to the land owners who later leased to the Auckland Rugby League Club and the site became the Carlaw Park rugby league ground.

The overall success of The Kong Foong Yuen market garden contributed to the outcomes of Ah Chee's other business ventures.

Legacy In 2006 archaeological discoveries were made at the site of The Kong Foong Yuen market garden. These discoveries provided insight into the lives of the Ah Chee family and those early Chinese migrants who lived on the property. It is noted as a significant finding in historical record of market gardens in early Auckland as well to the early Chinese settlement community. Among findings were a large amount of clay and glass bottles used for rice wine which would have been drunk widely by workers in the gardens. As well as this there were remnants of houses which are believed to be where the Ah Chee family resided. These findings confirmed the communal style living that the Ah Chee family promoted.

Chan Ah Chee and his family thrived in both business and social life in Auckland at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was evident through the immigration restrictions of the poll tax.