On the industrial outskirts of Bendigo, a new minaret stands tall and unobstructed, a visible symbol of a community's resilience. The Bendigo Islamic Community Centre's first completed building is preparing to open its doors, marking a significant milestone more than a decade after the project sparked international headlines due to fierce opposition.
From Backlash to Breakthrough
The vision for a mosque in the central Victorian city became a rallying point for right-wing extremists over ten years ago. The situation escalated to the point where far-right extremist Blair Cottrell and two supporters staged a mock beheading outside the council chambers, an act that led to Victoria's first racial vilification conviction. A subsequent high court challenge to stop the mosque failed in 2016.
Sameer Syed, the centre's vice-president who has been involved since its inception, says the design was intentionally created to be an "open mosque." He emphasises, "We wanted something very welcoming … very open, very visible. We want people to feel the same way. Just drop in, have a coffee." The centre's spokesperson, Aisha Neelam, adds with a smile, "People can come meet a Muslim."
Forging Community Cohesion
Community leaders credit a grassroots campaign called 'Believe in Bendigo' and persistent outreach work for turning the tide of public sentiment. Anthony Radford, a founding member of the campaign, explains their strategy was to understand the values of the opponents, many of whom were "young tradies and a lot of working-class people," and engage them with the true story.
Neelam, a Bendigo resident for almost 20 years, reflects that the ugly scenes of the past are seen as "not even a blip in our whole story." She states, "The highlight is all the people that did the work that got the mosque to where it is and the cohesion the mosque created in the community, not the division. It brought along a lot of dialogue and a lot of respect."
This effort led to the creation of the Bendigo interfaith council and a decision by the Muslim community to make themselves more visible through workplace workshops. "It's just not about Islam," Neelam says. "This is more just about multiculturalism, really, and learning to accept others."
A Vision for the Future
Construction began in 2019 but was paused during Covid lockdowns. The project has been funded largely by donations and community fundraisers, with grants totalling just over $1 million. For the past two decades, the community has used a small university room for prayers.
The first building to be completed is a multi-purpose space that will host Friday prayers and community activities once an occupancy permit is granted. The formal opening is hoped for early 2026. When fully finished, the mosque will accommodate approximately 375 worshippers and will include a sports and community centre with an outdoor courtyard.
Syed concludes with a powerful message about the centre's purpose, affirming, "Our vision has always been that this mosque is not just for the Muslim communities, it's for Bendigo."
