Quan Sing's General Store Site

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic Value – Importance for the aesthetic character created by the individual components that collectively form a significant precinct.
Social Value – Importance as a place highly valued by a community and cultural groups for reasons of social and cultural associations. The site is of note for its association with the early Asian traders in the north west.

Physical Description

Nothing remains of the general store. The building was burned down in 1992. Townhouses have been built on the block.

History

The Quan Sing family moved to Carnarvon from Derby and bought Donson’s store on the corner of Crowther Street and Olivia Terrace in the early 1930’s. They renamed this the Quan Sing Store. This was originally built in the 1880’s when Thomas Bird owned Lots 75 & 76 that it was on. The original building was believed to have been a hotel come store made from homemade bricks. The mortar and plaster were made from road base, a clay and river sand mix. Extensions were made to the store after Quan Sing’s bought it in the 1930’s. The corrugated iron building on the left housed their 3 ton Chev truck and surplus stores such as chaff. The corrugated iron building on the right was used as a delivery bay and storage of excess stock. Winson who was born in Derby in 1920, was the youngest of a family of 10 and his mother died when he was 14. Kinverns (Lanky) the eldest brother at 32, took over the running of the store with the help of his brothers Kinton (Ken) and Winson. Lanky died in 1953 and Winson bought the store. Up to this time it had been a vibrant local general store, with curios from bygone years, which had intrigued its customers. After the introduction of Wesfarmers to the town in 1951 and the death of Lanky, Quan Sing’s store started to deteriorate. Winson never married and in 1992 while he was in hospital, children set fire to the shop. Later that year Winson passed away. What was left of the store was eventually demolished and remained vacant blocks for several decades with the sausage tree (Kigelia) planted by Quan Sing’s as the only memory. Now even the sausage tree has gone and units have been built on the block.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low/Low

Condition

Site only

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.