Islamic Society of Victoria: Tarek Khodr to open Preston Mosque on Cramer St this week for start of Ramadan

It can accommodate 2500 worshippers from 30 nationalities — and thanks to a mega redevelopment, it could well be the biggest mosque in the country.

What could be Australia’s biggest Mosque will open on Preston’s Cramer St this week, the Islamic Council of Victoria has confirmed. ​

What could be the country’s biggest mosque is set to open in Melbourne’s north this weekend.

The Preston mosque, or the Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, has undergone a $6.5 million dollar makeover, and will open its doors to worshippers for the beginning of Ramadan on Saturday.

Tarek Khodr, president of the Islamic Society of Victoria, said the Preston mosque would be a “21st century mosque”.

“It’s a place where new migrants can come and connect with work opportunities,” Mr Khodr told Leader.

“We run domestic violence programs and mental health services — this is a true 21st century mosque.”

The expansion has seen the Preston mosque, which opened in 1976, increase its size by 1175sq m, which is set to give it a new capacity of 2500 worshippers.

It makes the Preston mosque comfortably the biggest in Victoria and likely the biggest in Australia.

Mr Khodr said the attendance at the Preston mosque had increased by 20 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic, and was home to more than 30 different nationalities.

Despite the redevelopment, Mr Khodr said the Preston mosque had retained its original 18-tonne dome and tall minaret.