Welcome to Gwulo

Here you'll find over 50,000 pages about old Hong Kong to explore, including over 30,000 photos. The content is added by a friendly community of people who enjoy sharing what we know about Hong Kong's history, and you are very welcome to join us.

Kind regards, David

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New on Gwulo: 2023, week 26

Submitted by David on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 17:00

Gwulo's weekly newsletter takes a summer break: I'm heading to the UK on Monday to spend time with my family, coming back to Hong Kong in mid-August.

I won't be sending out any newsletters while I'm away, but if you'd like to keep up with additions to the site you're welcome to bookmark the What's new and Recent photos pages, and check them out from time to time. Or if you prefer the 'investigate an old photo' style of newsletter, you'll find lots of old Hong Kong photos and their stories in my books, available from local bookstores, Amazon UK*, and Amazon US* (*affiliate links).
 


What's new and updated on the Gwulo website:
 

General

1920s View across Happy Valley

Submitted by David on Sun, 06/25/2023 - 12:00
c.1929 Happy Valley, Leighton Hill, and Causeway Bay

 

Where: That's easy, with the Happy Valley racecourse clear to see above the trees in the foreground. At this time the centre of the racecourse was shared among several sports clubs, including the golf club. Those light-coloured shapes are the bunkers on the golf course.

Bunkers on the golf course at Happy Valley

 

When: Fortunately in old Hong Kong photos there is usually some building being either built or demolished, that can help us pin down the date the photo was taken. I can see two large construction sites in this photo, so we shouldn't have too much trouble.

New on Gwulo: 2023, week 24

Submitted by David on Sun, 06/18/2023 - 23:00

What's new and updated on the Gwulo website:
 

General

Birthday Buildings in 2023

Submitted by David on Sat, 06/10/2023 - 14:00

As the Cenotaph recently had its 100th birthday, it's a good time to see what other buildings reached a major milestone this year.


50-year-old buildings:

The best known building on this list is Jardine House, or 'Connaught Centre' to give it its original name.

Connaught Centre under construction
Connaught Centre under construction, by Klaus

 

Connaught Centre / Jardine House
Connaught Centre / Jardine House, by Paulo

 


75-year-old buildings:

New on Gwulo: 2023, week 22

Submitted by David on Sat, 06/03/2023 - 16:00

What's new and updated on the Gwulo website:
 

General

  • Martin notes that the Cenotaph has just had its 100th birthday. It was first unveiled on 24 May 1923:
    1923 Unveiling the Cenotaph

     

  • The unveiling of the Cenotaph is a clue I'd missed for last week's photo.
     
    1923 View over Central

    I dated it to 'some time in 1923', but it must have been taken around the time of the unveiling, as I can see the temporary grandstand that was set up for the ceremony.

    Temporary grandstand for the unveiling of the Cenotaph

     

  • Here's a happy photo with lots of connections to Gwulo:
    great granddaughters
    great granddaughters, by jill

    Susann (on the left) is the great-granddaughter of C.F.W. Petersen [c.1832-1896] (proprietor of the German Tavern) and Jill is the great-granddaughter of John Olson [1838-1918] (proprietor of the National Tavern) The two men must have known each other well, as Petersen was appointed as executor of Olson's will.
    Susann first "met" Jill here on the Gwulo website, and they have now been corresponding for ten years. They finally met in person a few days ago.
     

  • With Hong Kong temperatures climbing past 35C, it's time for a Popsy!
    Fruit seller on weekly visit to RAF Sek Kong 1955
    Dairy Farm seller on weekly visit to RAF Sek Kong 1955, by Curly Watson

     

  • Readers ask:
    • Are there any Japanese wartime tunnels above Mid Levels?
       
    • What was this large, temporary building in the the New Territories in 1955 used for?
       
    • Do you remember 'Curly' Watson? He writes: 

      I served in HK from April 1954 to September 1956.   I was an RAF Police Dog Handler and friends knew me as 'Curly Watson'.  It could be that anyone seeing that name might remember me but, as I'm almost 88, it's unlikely that there are many still around.

      My first posting was to RAF Kai Tak but, after some months, I was sent to RAF Sek Kong.   There, I did night patrols with my police dog Flash and also at the sub-site radar unit, RAF Ping Shan (this as about 10 miles down the road from Sek Kong and on the oposite side of Yeun Long).  Finally I was posted to RAF Mount Davis, which was a radar site on a hill at the far west end of the island, above Kennedy Town and overlooking Green Island.

  • Thank you to everyone who came along to my talk at the HK Maritime Museum last weekend. It's a great venue for this type of illustrated talk, as the high ceiling and large screen mean everyone gets a clear view of the photos. Many thanks to the Museum for hosting the event. 
    David giving a talk at the HK Maritime Museum