Avoca Joss House

“We have two Joss-houses, here, and Wednesday being a festival, day, one of them ignited, from the incessant fire-works let off inside the building, and nearly all was burned down, with the exception of Joss himself."

The Avoca Mail, 17 April 1869, p.2. 

“At Grantsvale the Chinese encampment is of a rather important kind. The Mongolian town is quite distinct from that improvised by the European portion of the population. Although laid out with little regard to regularity, the Chinese business men have erected their premises of a description more than usually substantial — butchers, storekeepers, and gamblers each follovv their occupations in commodious premises. In marked contrast to the enterprise of the votaries of trade is the establishment entitled a Joss House, which is of a most diminutive size, and open to the day is profusely adorned with gold leaf, peacocks, feathers, &c., &c. In front of the shrine are receptacles for the offerings of devotees, which we could not help noticing at the period of our visit were but few in number."

The Avoca Mail, 6 March 1869, p.2.