William Ah Ket
Date Published
: William
: Male
:
:
:
: Wangaratta
: Melbourne
: Melbourne
: Profession
William Ah Ket - first Chinese Australian barrister
William Ah Ket
William Ah Ket (1876–1936) was a Victorian barrister and advocate for Chinese Australians. Born in Wangaratta to a Chinese tobacco-growing and trading family, he was fluent in Chinese and English and worked as a court interpreter in his early teens. He qualified as a lawyer in 1903 and joined the Victorian Bar in 1904.
Ah Ket opposed discriminatory immigration and employment laws, supported Chinese social and political reform, and co-founded the Sino-Australian Association. In 1912–13 he visited China to participate in arrangements for overseas Chinese representation in the new republic’s parliament. He also twice served as acting Chinese consul-general.
Specialising in civil law, he earned a reputation as a skilful cross-examiner and negotiator, respected by colleagues for his ability, integrity and warmth.
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography
