History
Paul Louey
Our story begins in the 1950s, with a middle-aged visionary named Paul Louey. Born in China, Paul made the bold decision to move to Australia, embarking on a journey to Bendigo to mine for gold. But his ambitions went beyond the goldfields. In 1978, Paul established Paul Louey's Chinese Restaurant, driven by a desire to share his rich culinary heritage with the local community. The cuisine Paul chose to share was Cantonese, a style known for its vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients. For a decade, Paul nurtured the restaurant, building a reputation for delicious dishes and warm hospitality before passing it on to the next generation.
Joe & Lillia Lay
In 1988, the restaurant found new caretakers in Joe and Lillia Lay, a Timorese Chinese couple. Joe, a factory worker, and Lillia, a manager at McDonald's, had always dreamt of running a family business. But they faced a major hurdle—they lacked the funds to purchase the restaurant. Their turning point came when their family stepped in, offering generous support to help them secure the restaurant. With this assistance, Joe and Lillia were able to take over the business, transforming it into a cherished community spot while raising their family along the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, which they still proudly call home.
Charlie Chung
The legacy of Paul Louey's Chinese Restaurant took another turn when Charlie Hien Chung, Lillia's older brother, took over the business. Like his sister, Charlie was born in East Timor and had a deep connection to the restaurant industry. Before joining the family restaurant, Hien ran his own successful establishment in Seymour for many years. With his experience and passion for food, Hien has continued the family tradition of providing authentic, comforting Chinese cuisine to the people of Rye and beyond. Today, Paul Louey's Chinese Restaurant remains a testament to the resilience, dreams, and community spirit of the Louey, Lay and Chung families.