Islamic Sanctuary Fawkner

Consultation has concluded

A red brick Islamic chapel, with cement render detailing on the entrance, stands on the corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Circuit at Fawkner Memorial Park.

This heritage registered building was erected in 1930 after Melbourne’s Muslim community sought access to their own burial area through the Minister for Health in 1928.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has obtained heritage approvals for the works which will commence on 4 April and conclude on 26 April. During the works the chapels will be fenced off and there will be no road closures.

GMCT is seeking members of the community that have a connection to the chapel to help us understand and share the social, cultural, religious and historical significance. If you have a connection to the Islamic Chapel, then please add your comments to the online conversation below or contact us at community@gmct.com.au.

Project background

As part of GMCT's commitment to preserving heritage assets and providing safe community spaces, we engaged consultants to conduct an inspection of the Islamic Chapel between March-April 2020.

The inspection report showed that the chapel needed remedial work and restoration. In March 2020, GMCT sent letters to local Islamic organisations notifying them of the required works and requesting legal owners to come forward. To date, GMCT research and engagement has failed to identify any legal owners of the Chapel. We are continuing our search for the legal owner(s). In the meantime, to ensure the building does not deteriorate further, GMCT is seeking approval from Heritage Victoria to undertake the restoration.

Chapel history and details

The Chapel is a modest building with some masonry corbelling under the eaves and brick detailing forming fascias. It has small windows with concrete lintels and sits upon a brick plinth. A faded sign is fixed above the rendered doorway and green arched doors.

The small one room building brick building was designed by renowned landscape architect, Charles Heath, after an earlier design of galvanised iron which was considered unsuitable. It is situated in one of the outer hemispheres from Charles Heath’s plan and the boundary areas between the Crematorium complex, the Garden of Eternal Memories and the private mausoleum areas.

The construction was a significant undertaking for the time, as the 1930 Weekly Times states:

The population of Muslims in Melbourne at the time was estimated to be around 200, necessitating a heavy investment by all to raise the capital required to build it. (Weekly Times, 19 April 1930:15).

A red brick Islamic chapel, with cement render detailing on the entrance, stands on the corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Circuit at Fawkner Memorial Park.

This heritage registered building was erected in 1930 after Melbourne’s Muslim community sought access to their own burial area through the Minister for Health in 1928.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has obtained heritage approvals for the works which will commence on 4 April and conclude on 26 April. During the works the chapels will be fenced off and there will be no road closures.

GMCT is seeking members of the community that have a connection to the chapel to help us understand and share the social, cultural, religious and historical significance. If you have a connection to the Islamic Chapel, then please add your comments to the online conversation below or contact us at community@gmct.com.au.

Project background

As part of GMCT's commitment to preserving heritage assets and providing safe community spaces, we engaged consultants to conduct an inspection of the Islamic Chapel between March-April 2020.

The inspection report showed that the chapel needed remedial work and restoration. In March 2020, GMCT sent letters to local Islamic organisations notifying them of the required works and requesting legal owners to come forward. To date, GMCT research and engagement has failed to identify any legal owners of the Chapel. We are continuing our search for the legal owner(s). In the meantime, to ensure the building does not deteriorate further, GMCT is seeking approval from Heritage Victoria to undertake the restoration.

Chapel history and details

The Chapel is a modest building with some masonry corbelling under the eaves and brick detailing forming fascias. It has small windows with concrete lintels and sits upon a brick plinth. A faded sign is fixed above the rendered doorway and green arched doors.

The small one room building brick building was designed by renowned landscape architect, Charles Heath, after an earlier design of galvanised iron which was considered unsuitable. It is situated in one of the outer hemispheres from Charles Heath’s plan and the boundary areas between the Crematorium complex, the Garden of Eternal Memories and the private mausoleum areas.

The construction was a significant undertaking for the time, as the 1930 Weekly Times states:

The population of Muslims in Melbourne at the time was estimated to be around 200, necessitating a heavy investment by all to raise the capital required to build it. (Weekly Times, 19 April 1930:15).