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Site Details
   
Brocks Creek Chinatown and Temple Site
Permanent Declaration
Place
This site is characterised by a large number of structural remains and diverse artefact assemblage. Brocks Creek Chinatown contains terraced rock and earth floors, rock hearths, other raised hearths, temple foundations, iron and concrete fireplace, ships tanks and associated artefacts including tins, wire, nails, corrugated galvanised iron, glass, machinery fragments, Chinese porcelain and stoneware. The site also contains a large Chinese oven, about 2m high, constructed of stone mortared with termite nest material and lined on the inside with clay.
Brock's Creek Chinatown was the largest settlement of Chinese in the Northern Territory reaching its peak in 1886 at a population of approximately 400. It is associated with the most important mining area in the Top End. Between 1894-1897 the Chinese Temple was constructed to worship Kwan Sing Di, a great warrior, statesman and fighter for justice and the oppressed and also Kwan Yim the Goddess of Mercy. The community was a prosperous one, as evidenced by the range of commerical businesses operating during the 1880s and 1890s which serviced the many miners in the township. Written evidence also indicates the prosperity of the township in relation to the decoration and size of the Temple and the commissioning of two stone lions which stood outside the Temple and which are now located outside the Chinese Temple in Darwin.
The sites are of high historic and cultural value as they contain fabric of the former Chinese structures together with extensive artefact scatters which contain surprisingly intact examples of ceramic jars and bottles. The site has acquired social and cultural significance as the location of the largest in situ Chinese population in the Northern Territory during the 1880s and the 1890s and as a major centre of commerce and worship for the former Chinese community in the area.
20/09/1994
29/09/1994
24/05/1995
Comment sought
23/07/1996
14/09/1996
07/08/1996
H95/0010
Historic
Un-Incorporated Area
Designated portion 4848(A).
Temple erected 1894-1897. Chinatown, reached it's peak in 1886, with an estimated population of 400.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewBrocksCkChinatown_LR1.JPGChinatown and Temple Site07/JUL/21
ViewBrocksCkChinatown_LR2.JPGChinatown and Temple Site07/JUL/21
ViewBrocksCkChinatown_LR3.JPGChinatown and Temple Site07/JUL/21
ViewBrocksCkChinatown_LR4.JPGChinatown and Temple Site07/JUL/21
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Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 06/FEB/09
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Further Information
   
no data found
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 07122 3377STUARTDOUGLAS-DALY0007122 - - PPL
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Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object