Along Stirling Road is a Chinese temple set amidst lush green rain trees. This temple has its origins in Bo Beh Kang, the village that gave way to Queenstown's development in the 1960s.
Tiong Ghee Temple started as a village shrine in an attap hut. Dedicated to the Taoist deity, Guan Gong, it was here that the villagers consulted mediums on health and husbandry matters, at a time when doctors and veterinarians were rare. It was also here that villagers caught up on the day's news in the evenings after their chores were done.
In 1931, a small warehouse was converted into a temple and more deities were added. The villagers then named it "Ghee Tiong Temple", meaning "righteousness" and "loyalty" in Hokkien, virtues embodied by its main deity. On the birthdays of Gods, puppet shows were held in Hokkien and Teochew. After World War II, the villagers purchased a plot of land to build a bigger temple at Hong Ying Hill (where Mei Ling Heights stands today). It was renamed Tiong Ghee Temple in 1966. As development picked up pace, resettlement was inevitable. The temple was demolished in 1968. Determined to keep the temple, the villagers registered the temple as a religious organisation after the demolition and began raising funds.
In 1973, the villagers finally built their temple at its current location at Stirling Road. At the altar, you can see the original statues dating from the kampong days. This place also remains as a gathering spot for former Boh Beh Kang villagers, a direct link back to its early days when villagers would gather in the night.
The medium's chair, spirit whip and sword are the original pieces dating from its earliest days although there has not been any Taoist medium for over 10 years.
Today, the temple stands as the last reminder of Queenstown's past.