Ah Mouy emigrated to Victoria before the Victorian gold rush period, and served as a community leader of Melbourne's Chinese community.[5] Considered as one of Melbourne's earliest Chinese immigrants, he also worked as a house constructor and a carpenter.[6] It is claimed that the very first houses in South Melbourne and Williamstown were built by Ah Mouy,[7] who at that time was working under contract for Captain Glendining.[7] When gold was discovered in Yea, Ah Mouy decided to take up gold mining, at the same time urging his family back in China to join him.[8] It was through gold mining that his wealth increased significantly,[9] making him one of Melbourne's richest merchants of that time.[1] He went on to open several gold mines across Australia.[10] A letter addressed to his brother on the issue of gold in Victoria is claimed to have attracted some 37,000 Chinese compatriots to Victoria. As such, he is also called the "Father of the Chinese of Victoria".[10] Ah Mouy was also the co-founder and a major shareholder of the Commercial Bank of Australia.[11] Ah Mouy was an active campaigner against racism in Australia, when, it is said, that "racism had too strong a foothold".[12]
