Loo-Toy Joss House, North Bendigo

Loo Toy Joss Hse destroyed

Image Courtesy of: The Age, Monday 2 January 1933, p.3.

GOLD AND RICE,

STOLEN FROM JOSS HOUSE

About midday yesterday the Chinese Joss House at Emu Point camp, was entered by someone who stole three-quarters of a pound of rice

3dwt of gold, valued at 15s. At two o'clock Ging Foon reported the matter to the police, and Constables Burke and Goode were deputed to make inquiries. By five o'clock Constable Burke had a man in the watchhouse.

During the investigation Constable Burke came on a clue which took him to a house at Ironbark, where James Henry Gourlay, a laborer, aged 39, was living. On entering he saw Gourlay smoking what is stated to be opium, and he arrested him.

Gourlay was charged with feloniously breaking into the Chinese Joss House and stealing the rice and gold and further with unlawfully smoking opium.

The Bendigo Independent, Saturday 3 May 1913, p.6.

Chinese Joss House Destroyed.

BENDIGO, Saturday.— A fire which broke out at the old Chinese camp, North Bendigo, this morning destroyed the Loo-toy joss house and a dwelling alongside it. The house was of brick and mud-brick, and was occupied by an 80 year-old Chinese, Charlie Loon, and an aged pensioner, Katherine Salom. Loon had been visiting Bendigo Benevolent Asylum, and was on his way home when the fire occurred. Mrs. Salom had been burning grass on the windward side of the house, when the breeze carried the flames to the house, and then to the joss house. It was with difficulty that the old couple were restrained from dashing into the burning building, where the Chinese had some very valuable trinkets. All their possessions were lost.

The Age, Monday 2 January 1933, p.3.