Golden Point Joss House, Ballarat
Date Published
: Temples / Joss House
: Central Goldfields (Vic)
: Ballarat
: c.1860
Erected in early 1860
Panel Golden Point Joss Hse, Ballarat
The Chinese joss house on the Golden Point, which is now complete, so far as the internal decorations of the temple are concerned, is really deserving of notice, and speaks much for the artistic skill of the Chinese artisans who were engaged in its embellishment. The facade of the building is artistically decorated with a number of fowls and animals of different varieties, from a cock to a Chinese lion with two tails.
The entrance into the building is by a large door, and when this is passed, the visitor finds his way obstructed by a sort of folding door, which is only opened on certain occasions. Passing to the right or left, easy access is gained to the interior, which is richly adorned with carved work of nearly every variety and description. The walls are hung all round with mottoes in Chinese characters ...
In order to be enabled to worship in this temple, it is necessary that the devotee pay £1 5s and for this sum he gets a card, which on production entitles him to enter at any time during the period he may remain in the colony. The total cost of the building was £600.
Panel Golden Point Joss Hse, Ballarat
Community events centred around the temple
There was a larger gathering at the camp of both Chinese and Europeans. The expense of the feast was borne by the Chinese store keepers and others. If the ceremony described is not conducted annually, the Chinese affirm that the friendless spirits haunt the camp,, and disturb the peace and rest of the residents.
Bunyip, Friday 17 October 1873, p.4.
By 1892 the building was still in use and was "reopened", though whether this was due to a fire or simply refurbishment is not clear.
A large number of people assembled on Sunday at the Ballarat Chinese Camp, to witness the ceremonies of the opening of the Joss-house, and the periodical celebration in connection with Joss. The proceedings commenced about one o'clock on Sunday morning, and lasted until a late hour at night. About 500 Chinamen took part in the festivities. After the altar had been decorated, the Celestial building was opened by Tack Lee. There were in great profusion roast pigs, ducks, fowls and fruit of every description.
Fire was however the end in 1902
A very old landmark in this district in the Chinese joss-house, situated at Sebastopol, Golden Point was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. Some celebrations in connection with the Chinese New Year, which commenced to-day, were being held in the place yesterday by some of the Chinese, and the fire is supposed to have originated from crackers which had been freely discharged about the place. The joss and everything was completely destroyed, and the occurrence coming so inopportunely has greatly distressed the Chinese, who re regularly visited the joss to test their luck for the new year. The building was erected far back in the early days, when the Chinese camp was very large.
Golden Point Camp, Ballarat
