Ah Lum (before 1909–1925) was a gold miner and store owner in
Arrowtown
Arrowtown () is a historic gold mining town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Arrowtown is located on the banks of the Arrow River ( Māori: ''Haehaenui'') approximately 7.5 km from State Highway 6. Arrowtown is loc ...
, New Zealand.
Personal life
Ah Lum was born in China, and later moved to New Zealand where he opened a store in the
Otago
Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...
town of Arrowtown. He was a well-respected leader in the Chinese mining community at Arrowtown, and served as an interpreter between the Chinese and European peoples. Ah Lum became a local hero after he saved the life of a European miner who was drowning in the
Shotover River
The Shotover River () is located in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. The name correctly suggests that this long river is fast flowing, with numerous rapids.
The river flows generally south from the Southern Alps on its jour ...
.
Store
Ah Lum's store was built from mortared stone rubble with an iron roof. Inside, there were five rooms, as well as a loft space. His store was one of the few original buildings in the
Chinese settlement to remain standing.
[New Zealand Historic Places Trust](_blank)
/ref> Ah Lum acquired the store in 1909, and the building began to serve as a shop, a bank, a place for socialising, and as accommodation for both travellers and visitors. The store stocked both Asian and European supplies.
Legacy
After Ah Lum's death in 1925 (some sources say 1927
Notes
New Zealand miners
New Zealand businesspeople
Date of birth unknown
1925 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
People from Arrowtown
{{Mining-bio-stub