Mei Quong Tart,
more commonly known as Quong Tart, was born in China in 1850 and came to Australia when he was nine years old. He lived with the family of Robert and Alice Simpson near the goldfields in Braidwood in New South Wales.
Alice Simpson taught Quong Tart how to speak English (with a slightly Scottish accent) and converted him to Christianity.
He became a businessman and moved to Sydney to open a popular chain of teahouses in 1881, which sold tea that he imported from China.
His famous teahouses served tea and a wide range of food, including scones and savoury dishes. 'Scones' are a type of dense cake that is usually served with cream and jam. His largest teahouse, Elite Hall, could fit 500 people and was located in what is now known as the Queen Victoria Building in the city.
