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Opening today: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Our Founding Donors 創館捐助人

When MOCA was still only an idea, these donors chose to believe in it. Their support came before the museum had walls, helping to turn a shared vision into a lasting home for Chinese-Australian stories. We acknowledge our founding donors with deep gratitude. Five are featured here for their landmark contributions, followed by all who helped bring the museum into being.

Pang Family

Multi-generational family portrait gathered around a tea table

The Pang family’s story is woven into Sydney’s Chinatown through the Modern China Café, one of Haymarket’s best-loved mid-century restaurants and a story we are proud to tell in our inaugural exhibition. For generations the family has been part of the life of the area. Through the Pang Family Foundation, their landmark philanthropy has made them the museum’s foremost benefactors, and their generosity, more than any other, helped turn the idea of MOCA into a reality.

Gordon Mar

A descendant of the Wing Sang & Co. merchant family, one of the founding businesses of Haymarket Chinatown, Gordon Mar has become a devoted custodian of Chinese-Australian history, giving his time to the Chinese Australian Historical Society and writing warmly about the community’s past. He is also one of the museum’s principal benefactors, whose major gift has helped build MOCA, and he has generously shared family images that now enrich our galleries.

Daphne Lowe Kelley

Few people have given more to Chinese-Australian heritage than Daphne Lowe Kelley. Founding president of the Chinese Heritage Association of Australia and a long-standing leader of the Chinese Australian Historical Society, she has spent decades ensuring these stories are remembered. One of the museum’s most significant benefactors as well as a driving force behind its creation, she now serves as Chair of MOCA’s board, guiding the institution with the same care she has long shown the community.

Wailum Simpson-Lee

Wailum Simpson-Lee carries forward the story of the Simpson Lee & Co. family, the Pitt Street “Eastern Merchants” who brought fine Chinese craftsmanship into Australian homes, a story we share in our inaugural exhibition. One of the museum’s major benefactors, his generous support has helped sustain MOCA, and he has also entrusted it with the family’s photographs and materials, allowing a treasured chapter of Haymarket’s history to be remembered by new generations. In loving memory of his late sister, Kaylin, and at his wish, MOCA has named its ground-floor archive the Kaylin Simpson-Lee Archive Room, a lasting tribute to her.

Kaichi Leung

Kaichi Leung, founder and principal of A+ Design Group, is one of Sydney’s most sought-after architects. In 2021 he took on the transformation of the former Haymarket Library into the Museum of Chinese in Australia, generously giving his time and expertise pro bono. His vision shaped the museum that visitors experience today, and MOCA is deeply grateful for his contribution.

Portrait of Gordon Mar in an office setting

With Gratitude to All Our Founding Donors 感謝所有創館捐助人

Joanna Capon AM
Sebastian Mackinnon
Su-Ming Wong
Dr Jimmy Koh
Cheryl Cumines
Hansun Sun
Hock Yeow Koo and Geen Koo
Jemena Limited – Zinfra & Jemena funding support for MOCA
Paik Tsin Koh
Skyfield Corporation Pty Ltd
Wei Wu (Cathie)
Char Catering Management
Dr Stephen FitzGerald AO
Australia Xinhui Culture & Products Pty Ltd
Dr John Yu AC
Chris Chee
Phuoc Thang Tran
Accentor Associates
Dominic Pak
Heng Fai Trading Co Pty Ltd
Irene Lam
Lily Wong
Penelope Seidler
Dr Leonard Lee
City West Community Financial Services Ltd
Wun Kuen Ching
Xiaogang Sun and Xin Zhao
Seong Heng Lee
Albert Wong
Beaver Holding Group Pty Ltd
Bilan Xue
Biyun Xue
Bozen Zhu
Bradley Chan
Dave Kong
Deborah Chun
Desmond Lean-Fore
Dion Woo
Dong Hai Chen
Douglas You
Dr Chin Ven Tan
Dr Zhen Ma
Emily Liao
Faith Australia Pty Ltd ATF Faith Family Trust
Felicia Hon
Hai Tao Pan
Helen Jia
Jason Chieh-Ching Chen
Jonathan Wu
Ken Tran
Lai Man Pang
Lan Wei
Lili Xu
Lin Tan
Linda Yu Chen
Meiqin Gong
Milly Yang
Nga Lai Chan
Qiao Lv
Qihai Weng
Ray Chan
Ricky Chan
Sandy
Shanelle Sun
Sheng Li
Vincent Tiam Seng Lim
Warren Lam
Wei Meng
Wenhua Zeng
Wing Chung
Xiaoxi Zhang
Xuhui Jin
Yi Tong
AOCS
Australia Fuzhou Community Alliance Inc
Australian Oriental Calligraphy Society Inc.
Benjamin Oh
Bradley Powe
Cathy Guo and David Xu
Dr Ho Kok Tong
Joseph Kwok Wei Woon
Margaret Cumines, Eleanor Prouting and Katherine Prouting
Oh-Phan Family Trust
Peter Hack
JJ Chen
Dr Michael Houang
Helen Changken Wong
Chang Jiang Financial Pty Ltd
Megaward Property Group
Linna Le Boursicot
Dr Bryan Pang
Shi Jiandong
Lilian and Ian Lai
Susan Ping Kee
Sydney Dermatology
Taotao Fu
The Federation of Australian Chinese Cultural Associations
Tian Li
Tim Beresford & Kate OConnell
Toby Huynh
V Pang
Valerie Khoo
Valeris Khoo
Vivien Pang
Wen-li Chen
X Yun
Xiao Yun Wu
Y He
Yaan Liu
Yan Li
Yan Li
Yan Zhao
Yangtong Jin
Yean Liu
Yvonne Lam
Z Quin
Zheng Jie Dai and Hui Qin Shao

Robert Yuen
Elizabeth Kao
Anni Li Ping Ma
Bo Yan
Bo Zhou
Cherilene Chan
Dr Gene Sherman AM & Brian Sherman AM
Dr. Jiping Pan
Fang Ping Chaisumdet
Feibiao Ji
Han Wang
Ien Ang
Jason Yat-sen Li
Jenny Leong
Keith Ng
Leanne Tam
Mei and Laurie Smith
Michael Tse
Monica Chu
Osmond Chiu
Qianshan Wu
Sally Pang-Rippingale
Simon Chan
Than Kien Duong
Weihang Wang
Xiaolong Wei
William Wing Bong Lee
Alan Googan
Amanda Beibei Li
Ann Toy
Armande Lean-Fore
Australia China Friendship Society of NSW Inc
Australia Chinese New Arts Society
Beibei Li
Brenda Revell
Chek Chung Ling
China Academy of Art Australian Alumni Association
Chinese Australian Historical Society Inc
Chinese Heritage Association of Australia Inc
Chinese Women’s Association of Australia Inc
Ching-Mei Maddock
Christine Shiao Min Ku
Chunyan Song
Cindy Deng
Donna Zhang
Douglas Lam
Douglas Sheung Yan Cham
Dr Laurel Dyson
Dr Warwick Grave and John Barclay
Dr. Xiaobo Wang
Dr. Yu Huai He
Enter Group Pty Ltd
Erin Chew
FACCA
Fei Yang
H Wong
Hon. Dr Helen Sham-Ho OAM
Iain M Clark
James Zemin Ou
Jingmin Qian
Jiping Pan
John Few
Kenneth So
Kevin Keogh
Koman Technology Services (Karin Cheung)
Larry Strange
Lisa Wang
Lucy Wang
Maggie Wong
Malcolm Oakes SC
Man-Yee Leanfore
Marcus Tuk Chiu Lim
Margaret Cheng
Maria Chan
MM 19
Monika Tu
Mrs Betty Pang
My Doctors
National Imaging
Norman Soo
Olia Sun
P Tang
Peter K. Hannam
Qin Zhen
Robert Meller
Rong Sun & Jianxiao Cao
Samuel Shu Nam Chu OAM
Sichao Lin
Sicheng Zhou
Sinan Leong Revell
Sisi Chen
Sophie Qin
Su-Jen Lin Cheng
Sun Xiaogang