Castlemaine Joss House

Castlemaine Joss House

Image Courtesy of: Castlemaine Historical Society

"CHINESE Worship.-On the left hand of the Forest Creek road, a few hundred yards out of town, there has been within these few days erected a Joss House, which, though of small size, presents a very glittering appearance. It is a tent of about 10 x 8, with a narrow verandah in front. The material of the sides is a gaudy print glazed calico, there is no want of red drapery, scarlet Chinese characters on a deep blue ground, gilt flowers, and other tinsel decorations ; and the erection, in the lustre of its newness, looks bright and gay. The interior is decorated in the same style. In front of the entrance is a shrine, or rather a shelf, with red canopy and side curtains. On the shelf are placed a gilt flower of some size, cups, and smaller similar objects. On a small table in front rests a basin of earth, in which miniature flags are stuck, and pieces of sandal wood, some of which are burning. On an oblong table, in front of that again, are placed other ornaments equally tawdry, and the ends of the apartment are decorated with mirrors of the regular Brummagen pattern.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 1858, p.5. (Also a reference to the same: Bendigo Advertiser, Saturday 13 November 1858, p.3.

"The New Joss House.— The new Joss House on the Ten-foot Hill was the scene of a grand jubilation on Wednesday. The opening of the temple was commemorated by a variety of religious rites, as well as the usual feast. This Joss House, though not quite so large as the one on Clinker's Hill, is perhaps decorated with a greater profusion of gilding, mirrors, colored paper, &c. It has cost about £300, the amount being furnished by a company of devout and speculative Celestials. A payment of £10 or £12 confers the right of free entry as often as the devotee pleases, while transient worshippers are charged about 2s. 6d. each time they are desirous of performing the ko tow."

Mount Alexander Mail, 23 September 1859, p.4.

"The opening of the new joss-house on Ten-Foot Hill, Castlemaine, was celebrated on Thursday by a dinner given by A'ping, the headman, to the camp officials and others. About four o'clock, Captain Bull, Captain Harrison, Lieutenant Smith, Messrs. Cameron, Kentish, Middleton, Wheeler, and several ladies sat down to an excellent, dinner, A'ping taking the head of the table. The repast consisted of poultry, meat, and pork, together with a plentiful supply of vegetables. Puddings and dessert followed, and the spread was rendered more agreeable by plenty of drinkables in the shape of beer, wine, and champagne."

The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser, 5 October 1859, p.3.

Mostyn Street is mentioned as the location of the Chung Ge Haung Joss House in 1864, which the follow year is reported to have been moved to Forest Street.

Mount Alexander Mail, Wednesday 10 February 1864, p.3.

"The Chinese of Castlemaine will observe holiday on Friday next, as the Chung Ge Haung Joss house or public office will on that day be removed from Monument Hill to the new Chinese camp in Forest-street. The ceremony of re-erecting a Chinese altar always attracts a large number of devotees, and the re-building now decided on is causing unusual interest amongst the celestials here."

Mount Alexander Mail, 20 March 1865, p.2.

By the beginning of the twentieth century the Joss House was in a poor condition and under threat from a local landowner. However intervention by the Chinese community in Melbourne resulted in its preservation for a time.

Bendigo Advertiser, Wednesday 24 June 1908, p.3. 

In any case the Joss House was not often frequented by this stage if the death of Wah Gin, the 77 year old caretaker was any indication. He was found dead in a room at the side of the Joss House. "The body was in a terrible state of decomposition, having been dead for fourteen days."

The Bendigo Independent, Monday 6 February 1911, p.5.

Castlemaine Joss Hse

Image Courtesy of: Castlemaine Art Museum