Chiltern Joss House

By as early as the 1880s the Chinese community of Chiltern (Christmastown/Mount Pleasant) seems to have declined significantly

"Hong Huay was the owner of one of the Joss Houses at Christmas Town, but the adherents of the particular sect to which this Joss House acted as a place of worship have left the district, and consequently the revenue derived from it by Hong Huay has fallen off."

The Rutherglen, 22 July 1885, p.2.

"I have witnessed the celebration when there could not have been less than 2000 celestials in the locality. I doubt if they can produce a similar effect at present with their greatly reduced numbers. The gorgeous Joss-house, with its votive offerings, the offering up of prayer and thanksgivings, the fowls and rice, and other delectable things, the theatre, the processions, with many expressions of "Tsai, taai,” the noise of the crackers and fireworks, the tingle tingle of wire-string guitars, the devouring of chow-chow moistened with brandy, and the smoking of opium to produce an imaginary Elysium, combined to produce an effect not easily described."

The Corowa Free Press, 28 January 1887, p.3.

"A fire occurred at the Chinese Camp, Christmastown, four miles from Chiltern, about half-past 4 p.m. on Friday. Eleven huts were demolished, only the store of Shing Kee and the Joss-house escaping. The origin of the fire is unknown. The fire has destroyed one of the relics of the Indigo gold rush."

The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, 14 February 1902, p.31.

"CHINESE CAMP BURNED OUT.
CHILTERN, Friday.

The Chinese camp was burnt out at Mount Pleasant this afternoon. Charley Ah Lee was setting off some crackers, preparing for the new year, when a strong wind carried some on to the roof, setting it on fire. The flames spread from house to house, and were not arrested until eleven dwellings were consumed. A considerable sum of money was burnt. One Chinese was just got out by a young man, J. Scanlan, when the burning building collapsed. The Chinese store and joss house only remain. The camp is 40 years old."

The Age, Saturday 8 February 1902, p.12.