Gong Sim Hong Guildhall, founded in 1854, is one of the earliest Chinese industry guildhalls in Macao, located on Rua da Pedra in San Kiu district. It served as a venue for socialising and meeting for the shipbuilding industry in Macao. The guildhall is in traditional Chinese style with brick walls, a gable roof, and a red door adorned with couplets that add a simple and elegant aura. The building to its left, on the other hand, is in the modernist style of mid-20th century, with simple geometric shapes and large windows on the façade. The two buildings stand side by side, juxtaposing modern and traditional styles, demonstrating architectural styles from different eras and cultural backgrounds.
In 1954, to promote education of the children of shipbuilding workers, the Shipyard Workers Association founded the Shipbuilders’ Children School, primarily recruiting children of shipbuilders and local residents. Initially, the school operated within Gong Sim Hong Guildhall and offered education from first to fourth grade, later expanding up to the sixth grade. With the development of education in Macao, this school ceased operations in 1975.
During the 1950s, Macao welcomed a large number of migrants from mainland China, and the need to provide education for the children of these migrants became urgent. To address this, a group of patriotic and progressive individuals and organizations established schools, most of which were free of charge or with minimal fees, to tackle the severe educational deficiencies in Macao at the time. The Shipbuilders’ Children School, operated by the Shipyard Workers Association, was one of these schools that played positive role in promoting general education among the Chinese population in Macao and also reflected the uniqueness of the city’s education.
