Non Historical Gurdwaras in Australia, Newzeland & Fizi

Sikhs in Australian Continent

The Australian continent is mainly known as Australia Oceania Continent, because, many of its small islands fall in the geographical region of Oceania. So, all combined, the continent so named is to distinguish it from the main country of Australia. This continent consists of the countries, namely, Australia, Newzeland and Fiji. The eastern half of Guinea and thousands of Tiny Tropical Islands are also included in this continent. The smallest independent country is Nauru, a tiny island which can be covered in an hour’s drive. The tourists
from all over the world generally visit Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne and the famous beach resorts of the Gold Coast. The best natural attraction is the Great Barrier Reef, and popular island holiday destinations are Fiji and Bora Bora.
So far Sikhs are concerned, they are living presently in most of countries of the world. In some places, their number may be big, whereas at some other places it may be as small as a few families only. The census figures for 2001 in Australia as reported in one of the articles show the number of Sikhs living in different states of Australia as follows. :
New South Wales: 11,000, Victoria: 6,000, Queensland: 3,000, South Australia: 1,000, Western Australia: 900, Australian Capital Territory: 500, Northern Territory: 125, Tasmania: 75 (Total 22,600).

The increase in Sikh population in the Country

The same trend continued for many years and the New South Wales had the largest Sikh population for Gurdwara at Mauritius, with President. S. Kuldip Singh Rekhi, Granthi Singh and Secretary S. Iqbal Singh Walia a long time. Even today the Sikh constitutes about 14% of all people of Indian origin who have migrated to Australia. Their association with Australia started as early as last quarter of 1800’s. The British Government in India was employing a large number of Sikhs as trusted guards and watchmen in colonies like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China because of their good physique, capacity for hard work and integrity. Some of these workers ventured further south to the Big Island called Australia. Here they found fellow travellers from Western Punjab, Muslims, working as camel drivers in the dry interior. Sikhs found work as hawkers, cane cutters and camel drivers. After the start of the Second World War, the Sikh migrants who had been working as hawkers, cane cutters and on other jobs were able to gain regular employment due to a labour shortage. They started to concentrate around Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour and filled the need for workers on the banana farms. The great upheaval in Punjab at the time of Partition of India in 1947 provided the impetus for many family members to come and join the earlier migrants to Australia. Gradually, they purchased farm lands and became rich Banana growing farmers. When Banana growing farming became less attractive, they shifted to an alternate crop, blueberries. At present many banana farms are being converted to blueberry plantations and they have a reliable paying export market. During all these years a number of Sikhs students also came to Australia for studies and settled there in different trades and professions. The number of students is still increasing year after year and the present population is around 1.50 lac Sikhs in the country. Whereas the 2006 census did not even recognise Sikhism among 20 religions recorded in Australia, as per 2016 census, Sikhism has become the 5th largest religion. The 2016 census indicated that Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital, is home to 52762 Sikhs, followed by New South Wales (31737), Queensland (17433), Western Australia (11897), South Australia (8808) and Canberra (2142). Northern Territory and Tasmania have a smaller population of under 700 Sikhs each. As per the reports appearing in the press in August 2017, the population of the Sikhs had grown up by 75% in 5 years. It was also noticed that this growth was 500% over the last ten years. With this increase in Sikh population Punjabi language has also figured among the top ten languages spoken at home in Australia. Further, the Sikhs have shown their excellence in most of the fields, including Law, Medicine, Building & Construction, Real Estate, Transport, Hospitality, Information Technology, Education, Accounting/Finance, Sports & Cultural activities as well as community activities.

Gurdwara has always been a need of the Sikhs. Thus, even when a few families start living at a particular place, they construct Gurdwaras for their religious and social gatherings. The same is true of this continent where there are Gurdwaras now in all the parts of the continent. It has been reported that there is a Gurdwara even at Port Moresby in New Guinea.

Gurdwaras in Woolgoolga

Woolgoolga is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Pacific Highway, approximately 550 km north of Sydney and 365 km south of Brisbane. The closest city to Woolgoolga is Coffs Harbour, which lies 25.8 km to the south. Woolgoolga has two beaches on the Pacific Ocean. As the Sikhs concentrated first of all in Woolgoolga, the first Gurdwara was built here in 1969. This Gurdwara is still continuing to serve the sangat. The daily maryada is observed and all the programmes relating to Gurus are celebrated with an impressive participation. The address of the Gurdwara is 14 Hastings St., Woolgoolga, NSW 2456. Its contact no. is 0061-0266541655. There is another Gurdwara in Woolgoolga situated at 13 River Street, Woolgoolga, NSW 2456 (contact no. 0061-0266541655). This Gurdwara also known as the Temple on the Hill is also visited by a large number of devotees. –

Gurdwaras in Sydney

Sydney is a very famous city in the NSW state of Australia. After Melbourne, it has the second largest population of Sikhs is Australia. It has 8 Gurdwaras in different parts of the city. There is one Gurdwara each in Austral, campvelltown, Penarth, Bankstown & Wentworthville. In Turramurra, there are two Gurdwaras. One of these Gurdwaras is situated at PO Box 437, West Ryde, NSW-1685. This is on north shore in Sydney and serves the Sikh Community of near around areas. This Gurdwara is managed by an executive committee and the trust board elected democratically from the sangat members. Anybody from the sangat can become the member by paying one time contribution. The main source of funds is the donations received from members and visitors. The e-mail and contact no. of this Gurdwara are turramurragurudwara.com. au, 0061298585051. The other Gurdwara in Turramurra is known as Guru Nanak Foundation Gurdwara. It is in the lower north shore of Sydney, situated at 81, Kissing Point Road, Turramurra, Sydney, NSW, Australia-2074, this Gurdwara can be contacted on telephone no. 0294498253.

The Oldest Gurdwara in Sydney

The oldest Gurdwara in Sydney is located at Revesby. Its new building was constructed and opened in April 2017. This building was constructed after purchasing various lands for expansion of Gurdwara activities like opening of Khalsa School, Guru Nanak library and to facilitate access to the Gurdwara premises with more space for parking. This Gurdwara is being managed by the Sikh association of Sydney whose President is S. Ranjeet Singh. The contact details of Gurdwara are: Address is 14-22 The River Road Revesby, New South Wales, Australia 2212, contact number is +61297923501 and email is secretary@ sydneysikhs.com. Another important Gurdwara at Austral, a suburb south west of Sydney is situated at 170 Ninth Avenue Austral, Sydney, NSW 2171. Its contact number is 0296068047. This gurdwara is managed by Gurdwara Sikh Mission Centre, which organization is headed by S. Bawa Singh Jagdev (M.: 0061-401211111, 0061-296619960). The biggest Gurdwara in Sydney is the Gurdwara in Glenwood. Glenwood is a suburb, 32 kms North West of Sydney Central Business District. The Gurdwara is situated at 4/18 Meurants Ln, Glenwood NSW 2768, Australia. It is also known as Parkley Gurdwara. Its contact no. is 622-6994. This Gurdwara is managed by a non-profit organization “Australian Sikh Association”.

The Parklea Gurdwara

The most important Gurdwara in Sydney is known as the Gurdwara Sahib at Glenwood. This is situated in Parklea, a suburb in Sydney. This Gurdwara is managed by Australian Sikh Association, which is the largest registered body of the Sikhs in the Southern Hemisphere. It manages the Gurdwara Sahib (‘the Sikh Centre’) at Glenwood, NSW and serves the Sikh Community in the Greater and North-West Regions of the Sydney metro area.

Australian Sikh Association

The Gurdwara Sahib at Glenwood is the hub of religious and community activities all year round. The members of the Sikh community visit the Gurdwara Sahib to pray, meditate and listen to the teachings and hymns from Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The organisation aims at setting a high standard in serving the needs of the Sikh Community in Australia and organises various other programmes also for the benefit of the community.

In 1969 the first organisation of the Sikh Community in Sydney was formed named the ‘Sikh Cultural Society’. It was registered as a charitable organisation in 1970. Since that time it has been its dream to establish a ‘Sikh Centre’ which could cater adequately for the many needs of the Sikh community in the modern progressive society of Australia. The opening of the Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh place of worship, prayer, meditation and religious congregation) was the first step in the fulfilment of these aspirations.

Since 1970, a number of changes and developments in the organisation have occurred. In 1983, the ‘Sikh Cultural Society’ merged with another Sikh Cultural organisation, the ‘Australian Sikh Club’ to form a new organisation named the ‘Australian Sikh Association’. A new constitution was drawn up to include the objectives of both organisations. The constitution was revised in 1988 and the Australian Sikh Association was incorporated. It has its office at 10 Meurants Lane, Glenwood 2768. Its contact no are +6196226994 & 0433580539

Gurdwaras in Melbourne

The city of Melbourne in the Victoria state of Australia has the largest population of Sikhs in Australia. There are seven Gurdwaras, situated at different locations in Melbourne. One of the Gurdwaras belongs to Nanaksar Samprada. This Gurdwara is situated at 430 Eveans Rd., Lynbrook, Melbourne, VIC 3975. There is another Gurdwara which is managed by Ravidassias. The most important Gurdwara in Melbourne is the one situated at 127, White Horse Road, Blackburn, VIC-3130. This Gurdwara attracts a big number of devotees and provides various other facilities apart from Gurbani Recitation, Katha Programmes and Langar Sewa. These include imparting Punjabi Language, Education, Gurbani Lessons and Kirtan Training (Recitation of Gurbani). This Gurdwara is managed by Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha, Blackburn, Melbourne. Its contact no. is 00610398941800. Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha also looks after another Gurdwara situated at 417, Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing, VIC-3029. It was founded in 2007/08 by the then committee of Gurdwara Sahib Blackburn. It was for the convenience of the Sikh Sangat situated in the Western Suburbs that this great initiative was undertaken. The existing dwelling was converted into a Darbar Hall and an extension made to serve as the Langar Hall. The Gurdwara Sahib has a dedicated Granthi, Ragi Jatha and Laangri to provide all necessary services to the Sangat.

In addition to the weekly programs on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings, the Gurdwara Sahib assists Sangat members in organizing home programs, special Diwas, and Anand Karaj ceremonies. Gurpurabs and other significant occasions are also celebrated with reverence at the Gurdwara Sahib. The Gurdwara Sahib offers special services to senior citizens and children of the area. They organize weekly classes to educate children in Gurmat and Gurmikhi. The Gurdwara Sahib also organizes regular excursions for senior citizens through visits to all major Gurdwara Sahibs in Melbourne. Senior citizens also enjoy facilities at the Gurdwara Sahib and engage themselves wholeheartedly in Seva throughout the day. In this Gurdwara, suitable accommodation is also available for the visitors and for organising wedding ceremonies etc. The contact no. of this Gurdwara is 00610397492639.

Victorian Sikh Gurdwara Council

All the Gurdwaras in Melbourne are affiliated to Victorian Sikh Gurdwaras Council. This organisation is an umbrella organisation and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras. This was formed on 16th September 2014. The office of the multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC) provided funding to the Sikh interfaith Council of Victoria (SICV) for the establishment of a Gurdwara Council in Victoria. SICV, in collaboration with the Gurdwaras in Victoria, has engaged the services of Mrs. Jatinder Kaur (JK Diversity Consultants). Ms. Kaur who speaks Punjabi fluently specialises in working with Migrant and Refugee communities. Ms. Kaur was required, among other activities, to undertake community consultation, capacity development and leadership training with various Sikh community members as part of this project. These community consultations are done in both Punjabi and English, with all Sikh community members, young people, women, men and the elders, such like questions are dealt with: What are the Sikh Community needs in your region/local area? What do you think are the most important functions of a Sikh Gurdwara? What are your suggestions for improving the Gurdwara in your local area? What services or programs does the Gurdwara provide? You are invited to attend a Community Consultation Focus Groups at your nearest Sikh Gurdwara.

Gurdwaras in Brisbane

There are five Gurdwaras in Brisbane in Queensland State of Australia. One of the Prominent Gurdwaras is that managed by Singh Sabha. The idea of forming this Singh Sabha was conceived in 2009 and then it was registered with a purpose to construct a Gurdwara for the benefit of the people living in north Brisbane. These people had to go very far to satisfy their religious requirement and as such the Singh Sabha decided to construct a Gurdwara to meet their demand. Now a Gurdwara has become functional at 101, Lenke Road, Taigum, QLD-418. Its contact no. is 00610731617981. There is another Gurdwara situated at 16, Rosemary Street, Inala having its contact no. 00610737149509 which, apart from religious and social programme is also known for various women’s group programmes like Sukhmani Sahib Programmes on nominated days. In addition, specials seminars and event are also arranged to promoted women’s health and well being. Every year a Nagar Kirtan is organised on the occasion of Vaisakhi. In this Nagar Kirtan, almost all the Gurdwaras of Brisbane and the nearby areas unite and celebrate the day of birth of Khalsa.

In April 2018 also, the Brisbane Sikh Welfare Association in association with Brisbane Sikh Temple Logan Road, Gurdwara Singh Sabha Tigem Khalsa, Komi Shahidan Gurdwara Sahib Mecanzy, Guru Nanak Singh Temple in Inala, Gold Coast Sikh Association Nerang and Gold Coast Sikh Council organized this big procession. It started from Brisbane Sikh Temple Logan Road where big number of devotees had assembled. Free bus service was made available to the devotees to assemble in the park in front of Parliament House where from the procession proceeded further. Sri Guru Granth Sahib were installed on a decorated palki. The procession was led by Panj Payaras. There were many groups Singing Gurbani, performing Gatka and serving langar to all. Many prominent persons from other communities and the administration participated in the main function held at Roma Street, Park Land. The Queensland Police Commissioner participated after tying a turban. It was really a great occasion for the Sikhs and an occasion to understand them for other people.

Gurdwaras in Adelaide

Adelaide is a city in South Australia having good population of Sikhs. It has five Gurdwaras. The first Sikh Society which was formed in Adelaide was established in 1988. It manages a Gurdwara known as Glen Osmond Gurdwara. It is situated at Ten Mount Barker Rd, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. Its contact no. is 0061883794420. The President of the Society is S. Balwant Singh. The most important Gurdwara in Adelaide is situated at 7A, Barham Street, Allenby Gardens, South Australia and is managed by Guru Nanak Society of Australia. Guru Nanak Society of Australia was founded in July 2005 and Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar was opened officially on 15 Nov 2005 by the Hon. Micheal Atkinson MP on behalf of Premier of South Australia Hon. Mike Rann. This society organises various programmes by inviting renowned Gurbani Singers and Katha Vachak from India and other Countries apart from the weekly dewans which are held on Sunday (followed by Langar). Gurpurabs are also celebrated with full splendour. There is a library attached to the Gurdwara having a good number of books on Sikh religion. The society also runs Punjabi School where children are taught Punjabi language, culture, kirtan and religious duties. This society successfully organised 24th Australian Sikh Games held in April 2011 in Adelaide where different teams of Netball, Volleyball, Hockey and Soccer not only came from different parts of Australia but even from Malaysia and Newzealand.

Canberra Sikh Association

So far other territories of Australia are concerned; there is one Gurdwara in Griffith (NSW), one in New Castle (NSW), one in Cairns (Queensland), one each in Glossop & Renmark (South Australia), one in Perth (Western Australia), one in Roches Beach, Hobart Area (Tasmania) and one in the capital city of Canberra. The territory has 18 districts. One of these districts is of Weston Creek which lies in the capital city of Canberra. The location of the Gurdwara lies here at 15 Hichkey CCT Weston, ACT (Australian Capital Territory). It is managed by Canberra Sikh Association which is a non profit, religious, educational and social organisation representing the Sikh population of the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) and surrounding regions. The president of this organisation is S. Ranjeet Singh Kang, whose contact no. is 00610432473821. The aims and objects of the associations are:-

To promote in Australia the understanding of the Sikh Philosophy, religion and culture.
To provide a common meeting ground for persons interested in Sikh culture and philosophy and to exchange ideas with other ethnic, cultural, community and religious groups.
To establish charitable and welfare programs for the community in general and assist new Sikh migrants to settle in Canberra.
To organise activities connected with education and social development of the community.
To establish and support research programs, and provide scholarships to students in need for further education.

Apart from the mentioned organisations, there are some other organisations also which are managing the Gurdwaras in different parts of the country, such as Ramgarhia Association of Australia, Sikh Association of Australia, Pernith (+611247021344), Sikh Association of Griffith (+61269646080), Gold Coast Sikh Temple (+61755395995) and Guru Nanak Sikh Education Centre situated at 20-30 Lower Hickey St. Inrisfall QLD 4860 (contact no’s +61740614011 and +61733911463).

Gurdwaras in Newzeland

As in Australia, in Newzeland too, the Sikhs started arriving in the nineteenth century and started settling in Waikato, Auckland and Wellington. Most of them were engaged in farming. However, as the years passed their number increased at a faster pace and it more than doubled from 9500 in 2006 census to 19000 in 2013 census. As their early concentration was in Hamilton, the first Gurdwara was built there in 1977. This was built by Newzeland Sikh society that was formed in 1964. The next Gurdwara came up in 1986 in Otahuhu. Presently there are around twenty Gurdwaras in different parts of the country. These Gurdwaras include Gurdwaras being managed by Ravidasia Sikhs and the one by Nanaksar Samparda (Thath Isher Darbar, Manurewa, Auckland). The maximum numbers of Gurdwaras are in Auckland, which is the most populated city of Newzeland. There is one Gurdwara each in Wellington, Hastings and Tauranga. There are three Gurdwaras in Hamilton and two in Wanganul. Papatoetoe is a suburb in Auckland which has considerable Sikh population. There are three Gurdwaras situated in this suburb. The same are Sri Dashmesh Darbar, Gurdwara Sri Tegh Bahadar Sahib and Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara.

Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib

The most visited Gurdwara is situated in the area Takanini. This Gurdwara situated at 70 Takanini School Road, Takanini 2112, New Zeland is named as Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib. Its email and contact numbers are support@gurdwaar.com, 006492962376 and 006492769043. This Gurdwara was founded in March 2005. The foundation stone of this temple was laid by the traditional Sikh Panj Piaras in the presence of the then Prime Minister Helen Clark who was a regular visitor throughout her tenure as the leader of the nation. This project was completed in a record time of 2.5 years under the able leadership of Daljit Singh JP. The beautiful building of the Gurdwara now has a spacious Langar hall on the ground floor and the main assembly hall on the first floor where a congregation in excess of 5000 can assemble and listen to kirtan in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.

Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand

This society located at Takanini School Road, Takanini, Auckland with its postal address: PO Box 22579 Otahuhu, Auckland was registered in 2008 under the Charity Act 2005 of New Zealand at Auckland vide registration no. CC37711. Apart from it’s constructing the most important Gurdwara, Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib, Takanini, this organisation also organises various community events every year. The same include Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali), New Year Eve and annual event which has many religious programmes and sports tournaments running for seven days. This annual event is held in the second week of March in every year and is attended by more than 5000 people. One special programme known as Sikh Children Day is a great event held in spring every year to educate and create awareness about Sikhism among the Sikh children. This two days event includes competitions, speeches, arts, Sikh Martial Arts, religion poetry, and sports competition. The society is very particular in holding sports event every year. These events include sports likes volleyball, football, Kabaddi, tug of war. These events are organized by Supreme Sikh Society sports committee to get people active in the community and to get kids involved in sports. Roughly attendance of these tournaments is 3000-4000 people. The society is functioning with a committee headed by the President S. Harmesh Singh (00642111110896) and S. Manjinder Singh as the Secretary (00642102718560) under the patronizing guidance of S. Daljeet Singh.

Gurdwaras in Fiji

Fiji is an island near Australia where a large number of people are of Indian origin. These people include Sikhs also, who are generally known as Punjabis. Most of these people had gone to Fiji for some employment or for moving forward to countries like Australia and New Zealand. Some of the Sikhs working in Hong Kong and China as Police men were brought to Fiji in 1900. They proved excellent police men. This becomes evident from a report by C. F. Andrews and W. W. Pearson. In their report on Indian indentured labour in Fiji, in February 1916, expressed high regard for the Indian Police Force in Suva made up of Sikhs. They noted that unlike in India these policemen did not take bribes. They wrote that :

“We found an extremely well-conducted Indian Police Force in Suva. These Indians, who were Sikhs, were paid a good monthly wage, and expressed themselves, on the whole, contented with their position. They had come out under an agreement, but there was nothing about it that was servile. Their passage was quite different from that of the ordinary coolies. They were treated well by their senior officers, who spoke highly of their men”.

Walter Gill, who served as an overseer for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in Lautoka during the final years of indenture, has also written about significant numbers of Sikhs employed in the Western Division of Fiji to police the Indian population. A good number of Sikhs included those known as Ravidasias. Their main concentration was at Tamavua and Nasinu areas near Suva. That is why the first Gurdwara was built in Samabula near this place in 1922. Gradually more Gudwaras were built and other institutions were also started for the benefit of the community. However, in recent years many Sikhs have migrated to New Zealand, Australia and even to USA, Canada and other western countries. The two important Gurdwaras in Fiji are Lautoka Gurdwara and Gurdwara Samabula, Suva. The contact no. of Lautoka Gurdwara is 679- 660685. Samabula Gurdwara is situated at Ratu Mara Road Samabula, Suva, Fiji. It is managed by The Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Its contact no. is 679-670425.

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