Joss Houses, unconfirmed

Joss House, artificial

Image Courtesy of: Michael Williams

Various references to a Joss House or Temples are made but not confirmed. European observers often mislabeled many religious or ceremonial items, such as a burning tower or a Masonic Hall, as a Joss House. 

North Willoughby: "There is a Chinese Joss House at North Willoughby, and our Celestial fellow citizens hold regular services there."

Evening News, Tuesday 18 November 1884, p.3.

Southern Districts (this could be Brooks Creek): "The 'Dispatch' states that a number of the "barbarians" have received invitations to attend a grand feast to commemorate the opening of a joss-house."  

The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Saturday 23 February 1861, p.3.

Adelaide St (New Farm, Brisbane?): "Operations are carried on near the new joss house, in Adelaide street."

Northern Star, Saturday 7 June 1879, p.2. 

Stanthorpe: "In the early days of the tin mines, Stanthorpe had its Chinatown, with its joss house, disreputable opium haunts, gambling dens, and the like,"

Warwick Daily News, 18 September 1934, p.3. 

Burketown: May Colless (1909 – 1995) described Burketown during WWII in Blake, Bronwyn (ed.) Gulf Women: Voices from Remote North West Queensland, Inverloch, Victoria, B. Blake, 2017. pp105-6.

"It seemed impossible to grow vegetables in the salty soil and sultry climate, but a couple of elderly Chinese men, from the gold rush days, managed to supply the few local people with freshly picked vegetables at most times of the year. They lived down on the bore drain near their Joss House and very close to Mr Suter’s [Sewter] Sanitary Depot."

Gulf of Carpentaria (Croydon or Georgetown?): "A picture was shown of a beautifully furnished joss house, or Buddhist temple which Mr. Needham said, existed in the Diocese of Carpentaria."

Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 1 December 1926, p.10.

Cossack: "The Chinese are building a joss-house, and have sent to Hong Kong for a Bonze."

Victorian Express, Wednesday 27 April 1881, p.3.