Way Key

Portrait of Way Key, 17 September 1892Way Key (; c. 1824 – 15 August 1892), also spelled Way Kee, was a Chinese merchant, who lived in lower George Street, Sydney, Australia. part of Chashan in Dongguan. The Yip family's zupu can trace their origins to Taipoo village in Henan, where the progenitor of the clan, Yip Wing Ching , came from in the 13th-century during the Song dynasty.

Business After setting up business in The Rocks he had leased 164-68 Lower George Street by 1876 and from here he imported Chinese goods for sale in Australia. Way established successful trading relationship with Sydney-based European firms like those of Christopher Newton and Sigmond Hoffnung. His funeral procession was the largest Chinese funeral seen in Sydney up till that time. It was arranged by fellow businessman Mei Quong Tart and started outside his business at 168 George Street before winding its way past the Town Hall and down York Street to Smith's Wharf where his remains were loaded onto SS Tsinan. His wife and family accompanied the remains back to Hong Kong. Photographs of the procession were taken by the studio of Cleeve and Co., Victoria Arcade, Sydney.