Tingha Joss Houses

Two temples are recorded, both no longer exisiting but many items from the Tingha Temples are now at the McCrossins Mill Museum. There also appears to have been a Masonic Hall.

Tingha

Image Courtesy of: Wing Hing Long Museum, Tingah

OPENING OF A CHINESE JOSS HOUSE. (From the Inverell Times, -Jan. 31 ) Saturday last was a grand day with the Chinese of Tingha and its surroundings, that being the day chosen for the opening of a new Joss house, which has recently been erected at the rear of Mr. Dollan's premises. Shortly after dinner time a procession, which was composed of at least six or seven hundred Celestials, was formed,-, and a march through the town took place. Banners, tastefully made, and of strange devices, were carried while, contrary to European custom, a band (Chinese) brought up the rear. Some half-a-dozen images were carried, as also were tables laden with cakes and other sweetmeats, fruits, and, liquors. On one side of the procession were four or five Chinese carrying guns, which now and then they discharged. On arriving at the Joss-house the images were placed therein, and a number of those present went through some devotional exercises, the import of which was to us a mystery.

Illawarra Mercury, 27 February 1883, p.4.

TINGHA'S PLEA FOR RETENTION OF THE "OLD JOSS HOUSE" - The Progress Association attempted to save what was also referred to as the "Freemasons building" in Amethyst Street.

The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, 30 November 1951, p.8.

MOVE TO DEFER SALE OF TINGHA JOSS HOUSE - The following year the Pensioners Association took up the cause on behalf of the last remaining tenant. Here it is referred to as the "old Chinese. Freemason's Lodge."

The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, 6 June 1952, p.3.

The confusion between a Joss House proper and a Chinese Freemason's is understandable as both could contain an altar and both could be sponsored by the same community groups.

Regardless of which Joss House or Lodge many of the artifacts from them have found their way into local musuems such as the Wing Hing Long Musuem in Tingah and the McCrossins Mill Museum in Uralla.

Temple artifact, Tingah Temple

Image Courtesy of: Wing Hing Long Museum, Tingah

Temple artifact, Tingha Temple

Image Courtesy of: Wing Hing Long Museum, Tingah

Altar, Tingha Joss Hse

Image Courtesy of: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 3 August 1901, p.291.