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The first Buddha in Australia
Buddha was brought to Sydney in 1826 onboard HMS Warspit. The figure of Buddha carved in marble and painted, Burma (Myanmar). -
A foothold was established
Buddhism was first established in Australia in when the Chinese people migrated to the Victorian goldfields during the Gold Rush era. -
Temple in South Melbourne
A temple was built in South Melbourne Sze Yap group from China for beliefs or worship for Taoism or Confucianism but was also used by Buddhists. -
Sri Lankan Migration
A number of Sri Lankan immigrants, most of whom were Buddhist, settled in the Mackay area of Queensland. -
Thursday Island Temple
Around 500 followers of Buddhism were present on Thursday Island and as a collective they built a Temple. -
Administrative Centre
An administrative centre for the Torres Strait Islands was set up on the island by the Queensland Government. -
Pearling Vessels
Over 200 pearling vessels were in use around Thursday Island consisting of the Buddhists. -
Longest Surviving Joss House
The Chinese had established "Joss Houses" when they migrated in the 1800s. The longest surviving one currently is the Triad Temple at Breakfast Creek in Brisbane, established in 1885. -
Pearling Industry Establishment
A pearling industry was founded on Thursday Island and attracted workers from different parts of Asia such as Japan, Malaya, and India. This spiked the population of Buddhists as it was mostly the Asian Buddhists coming to get jobs in pearling. -
Immigration Restriction Act of 1901
A policy was established by Edmund Barton, who restricted the immigration of people who were not European. This act was a step forward in the government's plan in creating an all-white Australia. -
Returning of Buddha
The Buddha that was once brought to Sydney was donated by bequest to the Australian Museum by Miss Jane Piper. -
Buddhism Study Group
The first recorded Buddhist study group was created in Melbourne by Anglo-Australians who adopted Buddhist teachings. The group was called the Little Circle of the Dharma. -
Sister Dhammadinna
An elderly Buddhist nun named Sister Dhammadinna visited Australia from the USA in 1951 and was a significant factor in the growth of Buddhism in Australia at that time. She taught meditations and lectured on the religion, sparking interest in many Australians. -
The Buddhist Society of Victoria
The Buddhist Society of Victoria was founded in 1953 and is currently the oldest Buddhist Institute in Victoria. -
Buddhist Society of New South Wales
The Buddhist Society of New South Wales was established in 1956. -
Buddhist Federation of Australia
The Buddhist Federation of Australia was founded by a Veteran Buddhist named Charles F. Knight. -
World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB)
The World Fellowship of Buddhists held a meeting in 1984 in Sydney to establish a regional branch around Australia.
