Our latest episode of Past Lives, “Otherwise, Yokahama”, unfolds in a dramatic courtroom scene in 1923 Melbourne, where Mrs. Ah Kim, otherwise known as “Yokahama” or “Nellie Bew”, is accused of dodging taxes linked to illegal gambling. As the narrative progresses, it delves into the life and trials of Nellie Bew — revealing her birth name as Tie Cum Ah Chung —painting a portrait of a woman who navigated the complexities of identity, legality, and survival in the historical and cultural tapestry of Hobart and Melbourne.

Nellie, dressed sharply and wielding a mastery of English that belies her humble beginnings, confronts the accusations with a mix of defiance and charm. The court session, while focused on a seemingly trivial amount of evaded tax, peels back layers of Nellie’s life, from her purported gambling activities to her deeper story of migration and reinvention. The case quickly dissolves, but the echoes of her encounters with the justice system hint at a deeper, ongoing struggle.

The broader theme of the podcast explores the intersection of personal history with urban decay and historical transformation. Nellie’s life is a microcosm of the broader changes that occurred in Melbourne’s underbelly at the turn of the 20th Century, where the past is not merely history but a living, breathing presence in the alleys and buildings of the city. Our host, Sean, positions himself as a “mad archaeologist,” not in search of ancient relics but rather in pursuit of the stories embedded within the city’s architectural and social landscapes.

This saga transcends the personal, touching on themes of identity, resilience, and the often blurry line between legality and survival. It challenges the listener to consider how history is recorded and remembered, and how individuals navigate the spaces between society’s expectations and their realities. The narrative is a vivid exploration of how personal stories and urban histories are interwoven, each shaping the other in the continuous dance of culture and time.