Mystery Diggers Rest temple in ruins

by LIAM MCALEER

A VIETNAMESE place of worship on the outskirts of Diggers Rest is in decay. Behind gold wrought-iron gates and a decorated concrete wall are a garden and temple called Hoa Vien Viet Nam.

A series of large religious sculptures line the driveway of the Edwards Rd property, while several other marble statues remain in their tattered plastic wrapping inside broken wooden shipping crates.

Scattered around the grounds are crates of Vietnamese-style roof tiles, ponds, fountains, huts, lanterns and two high statues.

There are also three buildings on the property with metal shutters covering windows and doors.

In a small temple on a metal pole in the middle of an empty pond, a statue surrounded by plastic flowers sits behind glass doors.

But plates of fresh fruit placed around one statue indicates the property may still be used as a place of worship.

In 2003 the Leader reported the property’s owners had applied for a permit for a house and then applied to Hume Council with a landscape plan in 1998, which the council refused because it lacked detail.

Despite many attempts, Leader was unable to contact the property’s owners.

from melton-leader.whereilive.com.au