I am back again for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge so have made the commitment to blog every day in April except the Sundays. Some bloggers choose a Theme, and others do random posts. For me, a theme works better, so the theme  I’ve chosen for 2016 is Bendigo, a large provincial city in central Victoria, Australia.  I live just outside Bendigo and have been in this area for only 9 years, so feel I still have ‘visitors eyes’.

J is for Joss House Temple, the heritage listed, place of worship for the Chinese community, which was huge in Bendigo during the goldrush. The Bendigo Joss House Temple was built in the 1870s, after the goldrush, when many Chinese stayed after the fortune hunters moved on to the next pot of gold.

The site of the Joss House was originally the Ironbark Chinese Camp. There were many Chinese camps on the goldfields. The Ironbark Camp burned down in 1911 for the second time, leaving the Joss House as the only thing standing.

The Joss House is heritage listed and is a great place to visit to learn more about Chinese culture and the experiences of the Chinese on the goldfields. Dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers are available to talk about the history with their many stories and anecdotes

Local handmade bricks, formed the building, with the bricks painted red, a colour that  symbolises happiness, strength and vitality.

Today the Joss House Temple is a very popular place for tourists to visit.