Weiwu Zhang

About

A former financial technology executive with over 15 years in fintech innovation, I now lead Historic Rivermill, a 115-year-old heritage nestled in Queensland's Gold Coast hinterland. This historic property, once an operating mill by the Coomera River, has been lovingly restored to become a place where families create memories, where weddings mark new beginnings, and where our unique animal experiences connect visitors with nature's simple joys.

My journey from finance to rural tourism might seem unusual, but Historic Rivermill represents the convergence of my lifelong passions: preserving cultural heritage, creating sustainable businesses, and fostering meaningful human connections. The property's century-old structures tell stories of Australia's agricultural past, while our riverside café and rustic event spaces provide the perfect backdrop for today's moments that become tomorrow's memories.

Beyond the day-to-day operations of Rivermill, I also serve as President of the Peruvian Horse Association of Australasia, dedicated to increasing awareness of this UNESCO-recognised Cultural Heritage breed. Our four purebred Peruvian Paso horses at Rivermill create profound cultural connections as visitors experience their distinctive gait and natural elegance. Watching these magnificent animals dance across our grounds or experiencing a gentle ride along the river brings families together in shared wonder, creating bonds through a living tradition that spans continents and centuries.

Culture Background

My home town Bairi Tibetan Autonomous County is where rugged highlands meet the Gobi Desert's edge. I spent my early years among horsemen, carrying Tsampa in my saddle bag. With a quater Mongolian in my blood, the wide landscape of miles and miles of sand formed my memory and character.

Years of my life were also spent in southern Spain's sherry country, a cultural frontier where Moorish, Gypsy, and Christian legacies converge. There, among the whitewashed buildings and ancient orange groves, cooble stone plazas filled with the smell of aged Sherry, I developed a deep appreciation for flamenco's passionate rhythms and the proud Andalusian horse tradition that would also connect me to the Peruvian Paso breed.

Speaking Mandarin, English, and Spanish, I've learned that language barriers, like market silos, can be bridged to create deeper understanding and connection. This perspective has shaped both my approach to preserving heritage and my vision for financial innovation.

Now, as steward of Historic Rivermill on the traditional lands of the Yugambeh people, I find myself once again at a cultural crossroads – where East meets West, where history converges with future.

Professional Vision

My work in financial technology and Historic Rivermill share a fundamental philosophy: creating meaningful connections where barriers once stood. Just as Rivermill bridges past and present, nature and humanity, my passion for financial innovation focuses on developing technologies that break down market silos and enable truly free, interconnected markets. In both worlds, I seek to dismantle artificial boundaries—whether connecting visitors with heritage experiences at Rivermill or enabling seamless transactions across previously fragmented financial systems. This vision of accessibility and connection runs through everything I do, from preserving cultural traditions to revolutionising how financial markets interact in our increasingly digital world.