Life in the Bing Chew House: An Audio Tour Walkthrough
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About the Tour
About the Tour
The Bing Chew House, built in the 1890s, is one of Croydon’s oldest corrugated iron houses.
On this indoor tour, you’ll find out who lived there, why it’s so unusual looking, and how a modern family coped with the extreme heat of a Croydon summer in what appears to be a tin shed.
You’ll learn about the four generations of the Bing Chew family, of Chinese-Aboriginal heritage, who called this house home from the 1930s until the 1980s. As you make your way through the house, you’ll hear first-hand accounts from three of the four Bing Chew family members who lived there, as shared by parents Wayne and Sylvia Bing Chew and their daughter Helen.
During this 25-minute indoor audio tour you’ll find out about:
- Life without modern plumbing or electricity, and how the arrival of power transformed the family’s daily lives
- The unique design features that helped to cool the house
- The challenges of living in a remote town in the mid to late 1900s with no resident doctor and the closest supermarket five hours away
- How they geared up for the wet season when roads could be cut off for weeks at a time
- Unusual stories like the pet horse that would poke its head through the window
- Aspects of their lives that many can relate to, which included fun times too
The Bing Chews have fond memories of living in the house. We are lucky the house has been conserved so these stories live on, and this audio tour is a fantastic way to hear them.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Croydon Shire Council
Croydon Shire is situated just east of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Far North Queensland, approximately 2,200 kilometres by road from Brisbane, the state capital. Spanning an area of 29,538 square kilometres, Croydon Shire is nearly half the size of Tasmania and offers a unique and stunning outback experience as part of the Gulf Region.
The Shire’s economy is still predominantly based on pastoral and service industries. With successful promotion, the tourism sector continues to grow, drawing increasing numbers of travellers along the Savannah Way. The Council remains dedicated to preserving and promoting the Shire's rich mining and pastoral heritage, as recognised by its ongoing success in the Ergon Energy Tidy Towns Awards, including the accolade of ‘Friendliest Town’ in Far North Queensland in 2008.
The township of Croydon is well-presented, with beautiful shaded parks, gazebos, picnic tables, free electric barbeques, children’s playgrounds, and other amenities for the convenience of both residents and visitors. Croydon also boasts an impressive range of sport and recreation facilities that promote healthy, active lifestyles and foster community cohesion.
With its unique blend of historic buildings, modern facilities, and one-of-a-kind attractions, Croydon Shire is an inviting destination for an overnight stay and longer. Croydon's Chinese temple ruin is a highlight - it is well interpreted with an audio trail as well as fresh signage. The heritage precinct is also a signature feature of the town.
The community takes great pride in the town's reputation for tidiness, friendliness, and warm bush hospitality. Whether you're interested in exploring your family’s local genealogy or taking a ride on the historic Gulflander Train, Croydon is a "must-see" destination that should not be missed on any travel itinerary.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 5
The Kitchen and Dining Area
Helen: We had our fridge, freezer, dining table.
Helen: And the mulberry tree was out the window. And we had a hundred cats, a heap of cats. I'm sure people dropped their cats. We didn't have,... Read More
View locations and route
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Chinese memorial
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Mining Museum
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Lake Belmore
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Croydon Club Hotel
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True Blue Visitor Information Centre
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VisitCroydonQLD
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Croydon Caravan Park
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location63 Samwell St, Croydon QLD 4871, Australia
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Total distance0m
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Final locationFrost St, Croydon QLD 4871, Australia
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Distance back to start location0m
Directions to Starting Point
The Bing Chew House is located within the outdoor Iguana Consuls Mining Museum. The museum turn-off is less than half a kilometre out of town towards Normanton along the Gulf Development Road. The site can also be accessed via the road to Lake Belmore by turning left a few hundred metres past the Chinese Temple site.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
While you are on site, check out the rest of the mining museum there.
You can learn more about the Chinese people of Croydon at the Chinese Temple site - less than a kilometre away. Tune into its audio tour.
Just beyond the temple site is Diehm’s lookout for the stunning sunsets, and Lake Belmore for picnic or a spot of bird watching in the hide.
Best time of day
The best time is in the cool of the day - early morning or later in the afternoon. It's also not far from
Precautions
Best to take water with you, and visit during daylight hours. Be aware of local wildlife.
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