Australian History ✨

The celebration of Willie Mar. Winton QLD.

A Chinese gardener, loved by many.

A bit of a long read but worth it.

When Willie Mar died in 2007, he left behind a depleted garden, old buildings, and, which would all be kept by the Winton Shire Council as a tribute. Mar had inherited the fruit and vegetable business from his father, Willie Mar Snr, and was the last of his kind.
The younger Mar’s material wealth was far from spectacular, the property considered more of a historical relic, its unusual farming and irrigation methods were used by two generations across 77 years. But, as it turns out, Mar also left a bank account containing a small fortune: $87,000.
A group of local history buffs calling themselves the Friends of Willie Mar were aware of the money and in 2013 applied to use at least some of the funds to maintain his property, which had become a heritage tourism site in Winton. However, for whatever reason, their application was not successful.
Since Mar’s death, the Public Trustee has had control of his account and, after searching the world for a living relative, has now made a recommendation for the court to endorse. The money will simply be absorbed by the State Government, minus the costs of the search and court proceedings.
The Chinese-Australian businessman gave half a century of his life to western Queensland and is still a household name in Winton. He had customers, and friends, but died apparently without a next of kin.
In documents filed in the Supreme Court, the Public Trustee states that Mar was born in China in August 1929, the product of a visit home by Willie Mar Snr, and came to Australia at age 20 to live and work with his father in Winton.
Just five years later, Willie Mar Snr died, leaving his son to decide whether or not to persevere in western Queensland, far away from his mother and birth country. The younger Mar stayed, becoming an Australian citizen in 1967, but never had a family of his own. Upon his death, it was left to the Public Trustee to find any of Mar’s relatives.

None were found.
The local Winton community has embraced Willie 1 and even more so Willie 2.

We too have been there and a story told was that he applied to marry but was declined because of the mixed-race back then. How the world has changed.

If you watched 4Corners this week The Public Trustees have got their hooks into Willie Mar’s money and it would be interesting to see what The Public Trustees took out of the $87,000 in their search for a relative o/s. Be warned do not let The Public Trustees in Australia get involved with any of your relatives or friends in an administration capacity as they will bleed any funds dry and will not give a tinker’s damn about anyone’s personal needs or property😩