New Hindu temple caters for growing population

A new Hindu temple will be built in north Brisbane to cater for a growing Indian population.

Hindu Society of Queensland president Daven Pathik inside the Gayatri Mandir temple at Boondall. Picture: Michelle Smith

A NEW Hindu temple will be built in Bracken Ridge to cater for a growing Indian population in north Brisbane.

Brisbane City Council approved the application by the Hindu Society of Queensland to build the temple and a multi purpose community hall at 373 Bracken Ridge Rd.

Hindu Society plans temple and community hall in Bracken Ridge

Sikh community lodges new plans for temple in Taigum

The society is currently based at the Gayatri Mandir temple, hall and office on Lyndhurst Rd, Boondall which opened in 1991.

Hindu Society of Queensland president Daven Pathik outside the Gayatri Mandir temple at Boondall. Picture: Michelle Smith

President Daven Pathik said the new temple was needed because the existing facility was too small and lacked adequate parking.

“The main reason is the growing Hindu population,” he said.

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“When the temple was formed there were only a couple of families around and that was good enough.

“Now we have hundreds and thousands of Hindu people migrating here and on the northside there is only one temple.

“We need a bigger facility to grow and accommodate people.”

An artist impression of the Hindu Society of Queensland’s proposed temple and community hall in Bracken Ridge. Image: Brisbane City Council pdonline

Mr Pathik said about 50-80 people attended regular Tuesday, Friday and Sunday functions, but special services attracted between 250-300 people and weddings about 600-700 people — too many for their current hall.

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He said the society needed to raise more money but hoped to start construction of the temple in 18 months and open it within three years.

Hindu Society of Queensland president Daven Pathik at the Gayatri Mandir temple at Boondall. Picture: Michelle Smith

The community hall, which will be available for general hire, would be constructed at the rear of the block during a second stage.

Mr Pathik said he was excited about the new location, which would be easily visible and accessible from the highway.

The Sikh community also has a development application before council to build a new temple on land owned by Singh Sabha Brisbane at Taigum.

An artist impression of the Sikh gurudwara (place of worship) proposed for Lemke Rd, Taigum. Source: Brisbane City Council pdonline

The proposal is for a two-storey place of worship, known as a Gurudwara, to be built over two stages on the Lemke Rd site.

Singh Sabha also has an application before council for a Sikh school on the site, planning for an initial enrolment of 50 students, increasing to 260 by 2025.