To the passer-by, they are simply three green carved animals sitting on top of the colourful Northern gates on Dixon Street in Sydney’s Chinatown.
But according to King Fong, they were actually placed there under the guidance of Feng Shui experts to ward off idle gossip likely to come from nearby Trades Hall and Paddy’s Market.
Nearby is the Sussex street mall, a white space filled with orderly patrons and busy stores. But nearly one hundred years ago, the site was far from pristine – it was home to Chinese opium addicts and gamblers.
Wander past any building in Chinatown, and Fong has a long and detailed story about its history. The President of the Australian Chinese Historical society first moved to the area when he was eight years old and his father opened up a grocery store and boarding house.
"I gradually got to know all about Chinatown, the history and going to Campbell street and socialising. Many of the shop keepers couldn’t speak English so sometime they would come and see King Fong’s son let’s find out from him what’s the latest immigration or what’s happening in the news?"
While he has now retired to the leafy north shore, Fong regularly returns to the area to catch up on local news and visit old friends, including John Wong, a fortune teller and feng shui expert.
Wong - decked out in a groovy white suit and sparkling ruby ring - has worked in Chinatown for 35 years, dispensing advice to the likes of ANZ and locals in search of answers about the future. He is known for his positivity and declares that Australia has a great future, particularly for the share and gold market.
Fong says while high rents have forced many Chinese business people out of the area to open up Chinatown’s across Sydney – from Cabramatta to Hornsby to Marrickville – the Chinatown in downtown Sydney still holds the title as “being the best” and has expanded to encompass 12 streets.
"Having been here for 65 years, I’ve seen great slow changes, not dramatic because all this time we have appreciated being in a small Chinese community,” he says. “We’ve integrated very well into the city…there is a lot of great appreciation now of being Chinese to fit into mainstream circles."
