Rangel's Labyrinth [1852-c.1877]
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The buildings that occupied the site of the future Queens College. A description in a letter regarding a potential site for the new central School: 25th April 1876
7. Site IV: Rangel’s Labyrinth and adjoining premises.—This is the block contained between Sing Wong, Aberdeen and Staunton Streets and Hollywood Road. It is shown in Drawing E coloured pink. Seven-eighths of the property belong to the estate of the late Mr. RANGEL; the remainder to Messrs. Siemssen & Co., to Mr. Dorabjee, and to some Chinese. The whole makes a fine large area of 72,000 square feet, situate on a slope by no means steep and which can be levelled at a comparatively moderate cost. As regards neighbourhood, Mr. STEWART is of opinion that no better can he found in Victoria. The land and houses, which are very dilapidated, have been assessed at $50,000, but as a portion of the material Contained in these old houses, is saleable, this sum may be reduced by about two or three thousand dollars. If this site happen to be selected, the expense of its purchase may be almost entirely recovered by the sale of the present school site and buildings and the Bamboo Garden adjoining, which together will realize about $40,000.
Description of the property from the Estate Sale 18th January 1877
Notice is hereby given, that at Noon on Thursday. the fifth instant, the whole of the materials, bricks, stone, tiles, doors, windows, joists, floors, &e., &c., of the Buildings situated on Inland Lots 55, 93, 91, and 91 A, known as RANGEL's ESTATE, and comprised in the undermentioned Lots, will be put up to Public Auction on the spot :—
Lot. No. 1, Coloured Purple on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the House and Out-buildings No. 36, Hollywood Road.
Lot. No 2, Coloured Light-Pink on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses and Out-buildings Nos. 38 and 44, Hollywood Road.
Lot No. 3, Coloured Light-Blue on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses and Ruins No. 50, Hollywood Road, and Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, Ksu Kong Lane.
Lot No. 4, Coloured Red on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Joss House No. 10, Sing Wong Street.
Lot No. 5, Coloured Light:-Yellow on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses Nos. 21, 23, 28 27, 29, and 31, Staunton Street.
Lot No. 6, Coloured Dark-Blue on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the House and Out-buildings No. 19, Staunton Street.
Lot No 7 Coloured Dark-Pink on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses and Out-buildings Nos. 9 and 7, Aberdeen Street, including the Party Wall between the Houses Nos. 5 and 7.
Lot No. 8, Coloured Orange on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses, Out-buildings and Stable of Houses Nos. 5 and 3, Aberdeen Street.
Lot No. 9, Coloured Green on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses Nos. 51, 53, 55, and Out-buildings.
Lot No. 10, Coloured Dark-Yellow on Sale Plan, the whole of the materials above the ground lines of the Houses and Ruins Nos. 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35, &e., &e.
Rangel's full name was Floriano Antonio Rangel, his will was probated in 1874.
Comments
Rangel's Labyrinth included
Rangel's Labyrinth included the Shing Wong Temple
The land on which the Shing Wong Temple was built was included within Inland Lot 91. The lot was sold by Government at a public land auction in 1852. It was bought by Floriano Antonio Rangel, a Portuguese bookkeeper in the employ of Jardine Matheson and Company. Rangel owned the entire block bounded by Hollywood Road to the north, Staunton Street to the south, Aberdeen Street to the east, and what became known as Wong Shing Street to the west. In the interior of the block he erected some fifty inexpensive Chinese houses. The complex was variously called Rangel's Row, Rangel's Alley, or Kow Kong Lane. Surrounded by these humble Chinese dwellings stood the Shing Wong Temple
Source: Notes on Chinese Temples in Hong Kong. Carl T Smith RASHK Vol 13 1973 p133