Albury Joss House
Date Published
: Temples / Joss House
: Riverina (NSW/VIC)
: Albury
: 1867 to c.1937
Albury Joss House
"The Chinese in Albury held a high festival on 29th ult., in honor of their great philosopher, Confucius. Their Joss-house, on the banks of the Murray, was decked out in the most characteristic style,..."
Leader, 9 November 1867, p.13.
"Opening of a Chinese Joss House at Albury.— The Chinese portion of our community (observes the Border Post) have recently erected a new building in their portion of the town wherein to worship their Joss. The old joss-house was a miserable structure, and the new building is remarkably plain, something of a cross between a shearer's hut and a dog kennel in the eyes of Europeans, but doubtless considered handsome in its gaudy decorations by the builders."
The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 16 December 1876, p.776.
JOSS HOUSE BURNT. ALBURY, Friday.
At about 2 o'clock this morning a fire was discovered in the Chinese quarter of the town. It resulted in the destruction of a joss-house; also three tenements occupied by Chinese. Prompt action by the fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading.
Sydney Morning Herald, 2 January 1915, p.12
See also: The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, 8 January 1915, p.27
CHINESE MASONS OLD ALBURY TEMPLE FADED GLORY - "quiet spot off Townsend Street, Albury"
The Burrowa News, 17 September 1937, p.1.
Image: Chinese Masonic Temple - Howard C. Jones and Bruce Pennay, Vanishing Albury: heritage buildings lost and reclaimed, Albury, N.S.W. : Albury & District Historical Society Inc., 2000, p.22. Caption: "The Chinese Masonic Temple in a laneway off Townsend St, just south of Hume St, was photographed in 1937 when it was reported to have stood for 60 years and was still being used by Chinese people."
Joss House doors, Albury
Temple doors and panels from the Albury temple now at the Albury LibraryMuseum
"The doors together with two carved (incomplete) panels were in the possession of Mrs. A.F. Scott who lived near the Chinese Joss House which was located off Townsend Street in the 1940's - 1950's. The doors and panels were used by the late Fred Scott as shelving in his garden shed."
Couplet board
Transcription: 天三界是聖君名
Translation: "Across the Three Realms of Heaven, the Sage Ruler's name is renowned."
Couplet board, Albury Joss Hse
Transcription: 樞國帝王基業
Translation: "At the pivotal axis of the state lies the imperial legacy of sovereigns and kings."
Site Joss House, Albury
Image: Townsend St, Albury - possible former location of Joss House
