The Cairns Post

Temple statue ‘home’ after 52-year absence

- JACK LAWRIE jack.lawrie@news.com.au

A MISSING wooden statue of the Chinese god of war Kuan Ti has been returned to the community after disappeari­ng for more than 52 years.

The statue was an import- ant fixture of the Lit Sung Goong Temple, a former place of worship for the Cairns Chinese community which was built in 1887 and demolished in 1966.

A few weeks ago an anonymous resident returned the statue to the Cairns and District Chinese Associatio­n Inc.

The group was establishe­d in 1978 and carries on the legacy of the old temple and the community by preserving Cairns’ Chinese heritage.

CADCAI heritage manager Mary Low said the Chinese community had always been a part of Cairns and the region..

“Before the temple was pulled down, the community salvaged all the artefacts, the fittings and the furnishing­s, which we have the bulk of now,” she said.

“If people do know of objects that came from the temple, we’d love to hear from them.

“It’s our local and national shared heritage. This temple was a part of Cairns and dates back to the town’s earliest history.”

A cultural centre is planned at Edge Hill.

 ?? Picture: STEWART McLEAN ?? IN SAFE HANDS: Cairns and District Chinese Associatio­n heritage manager Mary Low with the wooden representa­tion of Kuan Ti, the god of war,
Picture: STEWART McLEAN IN SAFE HANDS: Cairns and District Chinese Associatio­n heritage manager Mary Low with the wooden representa­tion of Kuan Ti, the god of war,

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