Toowoomba Sikh community plan city’s first gurudwara in Drayton with council

One of the world’s largest religions, which is practised by hundreds of residents, will look to build its first temple in Toowoomba. See the plans here:

Toowoomba’s western outskirts could soon be home to a temple for one of the world’s largest religions, which is the faith of hundreds of residents.

The Toowoomba Sikh community has lodged plans with the council to build a “gurudwara” (place of worship) along Anzac Avenue in Drayton.

The two-stage proposal will include the construction of a nearly 700 sqm building on the site, featuring internal gathering spaces (a dining and meeting room), a kitchen, foyer, spare/storage room and amenities.

A parking lot with nearly 70 spaces has also been slated for construction.

The second stage will involve a plan to eventually expand the gurudwara in line with increased migration and the growth of the Sikh religion in the Toowoomba region.

It includes a doubling of the temple’s size as part of a long-term strategy.

The Toowoomba Sikh community has lodged plans for a 680 sqm "gurudwara" on Anzac Avenue in Drayton.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion, based on the values of equality, sharing and a belief in one pantheistic God (Ek Onkar), which originated from the Punjab region of India in the late 15th century.

It is the sixth-largest organised religion in the world, with as many as 30 million followers — nearly double that of Judaism.

More than 760 people identified as Sikh across the Darling Downs in the 2021 census and Australia is home to more than 210,000 followers of the religion.

According to the planning report by Precinct Urban Planning’s Jess Garrett, the gurudwara will be used for formal occasions like the marking of marriages, births and deaths.

“In a similar manner to a Christian church, the holy scriptures are recited or sung, and sermons are given,” the report said.

“Festivals are celebrated and birth, death, baptism, and marriage ceremonies are also observed at the gurudwara.

“Approximately four times per year, community functions and festivals are held on a Sunday between 10am and 9pm.

“A maximum of 200 people are expected at these events which involve eating together, praying and enjoying fellowship together.”

The Toowoomba Sikh community has lodged plans for a 680 sqm "gurudwara" on Anzac Avenue in Drayton.

During the week, Ms Garrett’s report said the temple would be used by small numbers on six days of the week and as many as 100 people on Sundays between 10am and 1pm

However, she noted the use of it on Sunday was different to a mass Christian churches.

“Unlike a Christian church, where there is often a designated start and finish time to services, people who practise the Sikh faith arrive and leave at different times, as there is no formal ‘start’ and ‘finish’ time to the service,” Ms Garrett wrote.

“Worshippers come for fellowship and a meal, and at some point during the morning, spend time in the meeting room listening to the guru, mediating and praying.

“The meeting room does not have formal seating (other than stackable chairs for the elderly).

“The nature of Sikh worship and celebration means that music and instruments are not

amplified and drum kits are not used.”

Reports were also included relating to noise, stormwater, traffic impacts and landscaping.

Despite it sitting within the emerging communities zone, the proposal is impact-assessable and will have to go to a special meeting of council.

This is because the land is covered by the council’s new temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) in a bid to free up more parcels for residential development.

It means a public consultation period will need to be run by the applicant.