Joss House celebration
THE Lawrence Chinese Camp was a centre of celebration on Saturday afternoon as the community came together for the opening of the recently relocated Joss House, or Chinese temple.
The Joss House was returned to the site of its former foundations in December last year, having previously been moved to Maryport St in Lawrence in 1948.
Opening the house, Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust chairman Dr Jim Ng told the crowd of more than 150 people it had been very important to Chinese community.
It was used as a meeting house, a hospice and ‘‘altar to departed souls’’.
The Chinese camp was formed during the Otago gold rush after Chinese miners were banned from living in Lawrence.
The Joss House joins the red brick Chinese Empire Hotel, built in 1884, and a stable at the site.
Chinese Consulgeneral Jin Zhijian told the crowd the opening was a ‘‘very special occasion for the Chinese community in Dunedin and Central Otago’’, and he thanked everyone whose efforts had made it possible.
‘‘Thousands of Chinese miners gave their energy, youth and even their lives to the community. Some settled in New Zealand and became part of the big family of Central Otago. They should be respected and remembered.’’
He believed the Chinese camp would become a major attraction, particularly for Chinese visitors.