SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE)
South Maclean

The migration of Tamils to Queensland began only recently. Before 1985, only a few Tamil families lived in the state. In 1983, Hindu families began monthly congregational prayer meetings, first in homes and then at the SWARA Hall in Spring Hill. Regular prayer meetings have continued there since that time.

As the congregation grew, a traditional Hindu temple in Brisbane became necessary. A Convening Committee was formed on 25 April 1986 and registered as Hindu Ahlaya Sangam. The first Management Committee was elected unanimously on 12 October 1986, and subsequent committees have continued to be elected yearly.

From 1987 to 1990, the committees raised funds to purchase land. In 1990, 4.5 acres of elevated virgin bushland was secured at South Maclean, 35 kilometres south of Brisbane, near the Logan River.

Planning consent was sought in July 1991 and granted through the Planning and Environment Courts in May 1992. The foundation was laid on 10 June 1993. The Maha Mandapam was completed first, followed by the arrival of deities, shrine doors, stapathies and sculptors from South India.

Construction of the shrines commenced on 24 June 1994. The first Brisbane Selva Vinayakar Koyil was consecrated on 5 February 1995, witnessed by hundreds of devotees and well-wishers from across Australia.

Built in the traditional Indian style according to Silpa Sastra and Agamas, the temple includes the central Vinayakar shrine, Siva and Abirami, Maha Vishnu, Murukan, Navagraha and Vairavar. The temple was rebuilt at the same location and reopened with the Maha Kumbabishekam on 1 May 2015.