| History/Origin |
Named after Ping Que (c. 1837-1886), a merchant and miner who played a significant role in the development of mining in and around Union Reefs. Arriving in the Territory in 1874, aged 37, he began mining at Unior Reefs. By 1877 he had his headquarters and a store at the Union Reefs and worked 5 separate mines. At one stage he had over 200 of his countrymen working for him, either in mines, carting stores or running his numerous stores. Ping Que was the subject of the first obituary for a Chinese merchant in the "Northern Territory Times" (15 May 1886), which concluded "...will be missed by many who have profited by his experience and advice. For ourselves we can only express sorrow at the unexpected death of one of the pluckiest and straightest men it has been our lot to meet in the Northern Territory." Ping Que's application for naturalisation was approved on 7 October 1885, but he died before the formal certificate was issued. Ping Que died unexpectedly in May 1886 at the age of 49.
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