Original post 22 October 2019
Photos 1 April 2019
The #SeeYupTemple in #SouthMelbourne was built for the Chinese community in a lane off Clarendon Street in 1866, and the architect was #GeorgeWharton (wiki page here). See Yup aka the ‘Four Counties’ is the Jiangmen area to the west of the Pearl River delta in Guangdong. It’s a standard Renaissance Revival style, but many details are exotic (I dont know if they’re specifically Chinese), and it’s painted in bright colours; I do like the Wedgwood blue and white, not original however, and don’t know if it means anything. Not sure why they built here, given by then Little Bourke Street was already the centre of the Chinese community, but the first timber temple was established on this site in 1856, possibly because nearby Emerald Hill was then an area of tents and diggers, perhaps many Chinese among them at the time, but no clear records that I can find. Also the siting is odd, with a grand facade on a back lane, but they also purchased lots in front on Raglan Street, creating a fenced garden, and the whole thing faced down what was another lane, Raglan Place; its speculated that this was all so that the hill was behind, and the lake (albeit then a swamp) was in front, which is good feng shui. The garden is usually locked, so hard to get good shots. An extra hall was added in red brick in 1901 designed by Desbrowe Annear, it’s got Renaissance dolphins on top; but then so does the older part, just harder to see. It would be good to know how Wharton and Annear got the gigs, but then how does any architect get a commission? Old B&W is 1880s before the garden was enlarged and a new fence built, last pic is from the 1970s when it was in a dire state, but restoration work started in 1974.
20 February 2024
The See Yup Temple in South Melbourne was damaged by fire last night – not sure what was inside exactly, but found an old photo and two more recent showing an elaborately carved altar, and no doubt there were various objects, all likely damaged or destroyed, but the building seems ok. Photo from The Age, interiors found on FB, first one State Library maybe early 20thC; they don’t allow photos inside so not many around.
A second smaller altar room
20 September 2024
Article in the Age the other day about repairs to the See Yup temple; luckily the fire went up and not out so the great carved altar was undamaged, and the second altar and 13,000 ancestral tablets in the ancestral halls untouched. Work has started with the help of volunteers and a $60,000 state govt grant, but I imagine they’ll need more. It is of course somewhat mysterious to me, not knowing much of Chinese worship, and I can only find one detailed study on it, so my many architectural questions remain unanswered. There’s also a Pomo addition from 2002, designed by Cheng Sui Fung. I suppose I should just enjoy it whatever the stories behind it, maybe donate if they need further funds. Pics 2,3 mine 2024
Storey of Melbourne 