John Egge

• General Notes
  • In 1849, before gold was even talked about in Australia, an enterprising and astute young man from the Shanghai area in China requested of Captain Francis Cadell, a merchant sea captain, employment for his passage to Australia.
    
    Captain Cadell based himself at Goolwa, the Murray Mouth, and the young Shanghai man was quick to realise the potential the rivers offered as he had always worked on sampans on the Yangtze River in his homeland. Initially, working in a menial capacity with the boats, he absorbed the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.
    
    As the young man prospered, he anglicised his name to John Egge and married an English girl, Mary Perring, from Totnes, Devon UK, in Port Elliot SA. Mary lived on Hindmarsh Island at the mouth of the Murray River. John’s courting was done by tying his clothes on his head and swimming back and forth across the ‘Goolwa Arm’. Right after the wedding John and Mary set off, working their way along the river until they settled in Wentworth in 1859. Eight children were born and raised in Wentworth which was to be John’s home for 41 years.
    
    It is said that John Egge eventually borrowed money from China to purchase his first boat, and became a highly respected and successful businessman owning a number of steamers, a bond store, a bakery, a butchery and boarding house. He was finally was recognised as ‘a Champion of the Rivers’ and the ‘merchant with the best credit in all the colonies’. Twenty years after arriving here he was already paying rates on eleven different properties. He was also well respected for his large contributions to local charities.
    
    The Chinese presence in New South Wales was often criticised and in 1890 the introduction of the Chinaman’s Act enforced a 10 pound toll on all Chinese passing between NSW, SA and Victoria in the state. John Egge was so well liked throughout Wentworth that the school children went around the township and collected money to pay his toll.
    
    John Egge died in Wentworth on 11th September 1901, and was survived by many children and grandchildren. He is buried in the Wentworth.
    
    To commemorate Australia’s bicentennial, a huge tapestry was presented to the Chinese people and now hangs in the Great Hall in Beijing. The only name and place mentioned on the huge tapestry is Captain John Egge at Wentworth New South Wales.

Details of John's family with Mary Perring