Hou Wang Temple facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Atherton Chinese Temple
Atherton Chinese Temple, 2010
Location	Herberton Road, Atherton, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900–1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1903

Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Hou Wang Miau, Atherton Chinese Temple, Joss House
Type	state heritage (built, archaeological)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600010
Significant period	1903 (fabric) 1903–1970s (historical)
Significant components	carving, hall, store/s / storeroom / storehouse, kitchen/kitchen house, residential accommodation – staff quarters, objects (movable) – religion/worship, temple, furniture/fittings, fence/wall –perimeter

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The Hou Wang Temple is a special building in Atherton, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1903 and used to be a Chinese temple. Now, it's a museum. It is one of the oldest Chinese temples still standing in Australia and New Zealand. People also call it Hou Wang Miau, Atherton Joss House, or Atherton Chinese Temple.

This temple is very unique. It's one of only a few temples outside China built to honor a god named Hou Wang. It's also the only temple in Queensland made from wood and iron that is still standing. Inside, you can see many original items. Most of these items were made in China in the late 1800s and early 1900s just for this temple. They include a special bell from around 1895 and beautiful carved wooden panels.

The temple was once a very important place for over 1,000 Chinese people. These people worked as timber cutters, farmers, and maize growers in the area. A group of Chinese families bought the temple and the land it's on. They then gave it to the National Trust of Queensland to protect it. The temple was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. It was carefully fixed up and reopened in 2002. Today, it has an art gallery and a visitor center. You can visit the temple and gallery six days a week.

History of the Temple
What the Temple Looks Like
Why it's a Heritage Site
See also

History of the Temple

Why Chinese People Came to Atherton

The Atherton Chinese Temple was built in 1903. The Chinese community in Atherton's Chinatown built it. They used local wood and iron. Many special items for the temple were ordered from China. This temple became a central place for over a thousand people. It was important for their social life and spiritual beliefs.

During the 1800s, many Chinese people came to Australia. They were often called "sojourners." This means they planned to work here for a while. They wanted to earn enough money to go back home to China. Most came from poor areas in southwest China. They often lived and worked together. This created special areas called Chinatowns. These Chinatowns were often inside or near European towns.

Chinese Settlers in North Queensland

In the 1870s, many Chinese gold miners came to north Queensland. They arrived after gold was found on the Palmer River. European miners often did not like them. Chinese miners were sometimes stopped from working on new goldfields. As the gold on the Palmer River became harder to find, many Chinese people moved south. They looked for other ways to make a living.

They arrived in the Atherton area in the early 1880s. They worked with European timber cutters. They set up a camp near a small European settlement. In 1885, this area was officially named Atherton. Chinese people were not allowed to own land. But many rented land from Europeans. They started farming fruits and vegetables. They also began growing maize, which became a very important crop. The Chinatown in Atherton grew. By 1897, it was a busy place with homes and businesses.

Building the Hou Wang Temple

In the 1890s, the Chinese community decided to build a temple. They had become a large group. They collected money for the project. Special items for the temple were ordered from China. In 1903, the temple was built. It was made from local cedar and black bean wood. It also used corrugated iron. Most temples in Australia were built with bricks. The front wall of this temple was painted to look like brick. This shows they might have preferred brick if it was easy to get.

The temple complex had several buildings. There was the main temple for the god Hou Wang. There was also a hall for feasts, a kitchen, and a store. It had rooms for a caretaker. It also offered places to stay for people visiting from nearby areas. In the early 1900s, Chinatown was very important. The temple was a social and spiritual center for over a thousand people.

Changes Over Time

After the First World War, land rented by Chinese farmers was given to soldiers. During the 1920s, many people from Chinatown moved away. They went south or to towns closer to the coast. Many buildings in Chinatown were taken down. Some parts were used again in other local buildings. A caretaker stayed at the temple. A few older men who remained in town still used it.

Without a large community, the temple slowly fell apart. Some repairs were done. But a cyclone in 1956 blew away the pagoda roof. A simple lean-to roof replaced it. Water leaks also caused damage. In the 1960s, some items were taken from the temple. These included the statue of Hou Wang and other gods. Some of these items have since been returned. The temple was used for worship sometimes until the early 1970s. It still has items from this later time. In 1965, several local Chinese families bought the land the temple stands on.

In 1975, the National Trust of Queensland started looking into the temple. They received money to begin studying it. In 1977, the Fong On family offered the temple to the Trust. They wanted to make sure it would be saved. Around the same time, people started listing all the items left in the temple. The temple was given to the Trust in 1980. Work to preserve the buildings began. Today, it is a museum that tells the story of the past.

What the Temple Looks Like

Interior of the Joss House in Atherton, 1929

The temple buildings are in an open, grassy area. This area used to be the Chinatown. The way the buildings are placed suggests that "geomancy" was used. This is an old Chinese practice. It helps choose the best spot and direction for buildings. The complex has a temple, a hall, a kitchen, and a store. They are made of corrugated iron and local wood. They are built in a traditional Chinese style.

An ornamental picket fence and gate separate the buildings from the street. These were rebuilt using old photos and digging up old foundations. The temple building has a "pagoda" at the front. This is the top part of the original roof put on a new base. Inside, there's an entrance area. Doors separate it from the main area with the "altar." There's also a "heavenly well." This is a raised part of the pagoda roof. It lets light in and allows incense smoke to rise from a large burner below. It has glass to keep out rain. The posts supporting it are a little uneven. This is to show that humans are not perfect.

The inside of the temple is lined with unpainted cedar wood. It has carvings and painted metal panels on the walls. The temple also has special furniture. Many of these items were brought from China. Much of the carving is decorated with red and gold paint.

On the left side of the temple, a door leads to the community hall. This building is simpler and more practical. It has a bedroom for the caretaker. It also has a room for meetings and special banquets. There's a "clerestory" here too. This is a row of windows high up, like in the temple. You can still see old Chinese notices and drawings on the unpainted walls. Behind the hall are two small buildings. These were a store and a kitchen. Both are made of wood and have dirt floors. The kitchen has a metal fireplace. Much of these two buildings has been rebuilt.

The buildings stand on strong hardwood stumps. The main wooden parts are made of black bean wood. The ceilings, wall linings, and other wooden parts are made from red cedar. For repairs, other similar woods like Red Penda and Kalantis were used. These woods look very much like the original ones.

You can still see paths edged with upside-down bottles. There's also a dip in the ground where a pig roasting pit used to be. Other old items found by archaeologists are being put back in the temple. These include carvings, banners, and the temple bell.

Why it's a Heritage Site

The Atherton Chinese Temple was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's a very important historical place. Here's why:

It shows Queensland's history: This temple complex served a large Chinese community. It shows how Chinese people helped develop north Queensland.
It's rare and special: It's the only wooden and iron temple still standing in Queensland. It's also one of the only temples outside China dedicated to Hou Wang. It has many original items inside.
It can teach us about history: The temple can help us understand the lives and beliefs of Chinese people who came to Queensland.
It's beautiful: The community values its beauty. It shows the cultural traditions that Chinese people brought to Australia.
It's important to a community: It has a special connection with the Chinese community of Atherton. They played a big part in developing farming in the area.