Mak Sai Ying

Three examples of Mak's signature

Mak Sai Ying (Chinese: 麥世英; Jyutping: Mak⁶ Sai³ Jing¹; b. ca. 1796, Canton, China; d. 18 June 1880, Sydney, Australia) was the first known Chinese born settler to Australia, arriving in 1818. He was known by many names, including John Pong Shying, Mak Sai Pang, Mai Shi Ying, Mark Opong, and (possibly) John Sheen.

He worked as a carpenter, living with John Blaxland on his Newington Estate. After three years, he worked at Elizabeth Farm for Elizabeth Macarthur, the pastoralist.

He married Sarah Jane Thompson (b: abt 1802, United Kingdom d: 27 March 1836, Parramatta) on 3 February 1823 in St John's Church of England, Parramatta.

It is believed a linen press, made for Elizabeth MacArthur (in 1824), still exists, and is on display at Milton House museum. The item may have been made without nails. The bookkeepers entry of payment still exists.

Mak Sai Ying returned to China for five years, 1831 to 1836. He may have worked as a port liaison. He returned to Sydney, on the death of his first wife. The first opium war began two years later. During this time, land he negotiated for from the NSW Colony had been allocated elsewhere. Sarah had a letter from the Attorney General of NSW explaining why the land had been re allocated.

Letter from NSW Attorney General to Sarah Shying 1831

He married Bridget Gillorley on 10 October 1842, but she died some six months later.

Marriage Register to Bridget Gillorley

He is known to have negotiated a sale of the Peacock Inn in Parramatta, New South Wales (a western suburb of Sydney) in 1844. He had been the builder.

A place Mak built and worked as Publican, he also negotiated this sale

External links and References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mak Sai Ying.

• An Alien in the Antipodes
• Australian Heritage Commission
• Public Seminar from Australia's National University ANU
• Australian National Museum