They were most conspicuous in small businesses (particularly in Fortitude Valley and along Albert Street), and in market gardening (especially on the flats around Breakfast Creek and Eagle Farm).

[1] Construction of the temple was an attempt by the leaders of Brisbane's five Cantonese clans to provide their people with a community focus.

[1][2] The temple was opened on 21 January 1886, and remained the focus of Chinese community activity in Brisbane for nearly sixty years.

[2] In the second half of the nineteenth century Chinese immigrants erected temples on most of the principal Queensland goldfields and ports.

A feature of this roof is the elaborate ceramic ornamentation, incorporating Chinese historical and mythological characters, on the ridges and bargeboards.

Internal decoration is elaborate, and includes exposed carved and gilded timber supports, and furnishings such as silks, embroideries, lanterns and lamps.

The Temple of the Holy Triad is significant as evidence of the development of Chinese settlement in nineteenth century Brisbane.