A new minaret rises proudly from the industrial outskirts of Bendigo, marking a significant milestone for the city's first mosque. With no fences surrounding the site, the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre stands as a visible and open invitation to the entire community.
From Backlash to Breakthrough
This moment of celebration comes more than a decade after fierce opposition to the project made international headlines. The vision for a place of worship became a rallying point for right-wing extremists, many from outside the area.
The conflict reached a peak when United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell and two supporters staged a mock beheading outside the council chambers, leading 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 vision was always an "open mosque".
"We wanted something very welcoming … very open, very visible," he says. "We want people to feel the same way. Just drop in, have a coffee."
Building Bridges Through Dialogue
The community credits a grassroots campaign called Believe in Bendigo and extensive outreach work by Muslim leaders for shifting public sentiment. Anthony Radford, a founding member of the campaign, says they focused on understanding opponents' values to bridge the divide.
Faith leaders united to create the Bendigo Interfaith Council to promote mutual understanding. The Muslim community also hosted workplace workshops to increase their visibility.
Aisha Neelam, the centre's spokesperson who has lived in Bendigo for almost 20 years, says the community chose to see the ugly scenes of 2015 as "not even a blip in our whole story".
"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," Neelam emphasises. "It brought along a lot of dialogue and a lot of respect."
A Vision for the Future
Construction began in 2019 but was paused during Covid lockdowns. The project has received grants totalling just over $1 million, with the majority of funding coming from community donations and fundraisers held in Melbourne, Sydney, and Ballarat.
The first completed building – a multi-purpose space – will host Friday prayers and community activities once an occupancy permit is granted. The centre hopes to host a formal opening in early 2026.
When fully completed, the mosque will accommodate approximately 375 people and will include a sports and community centre with an outdoor courtyard.
"Our vision has always been that this mosque is not just for the Muslim communities, it's for Bendigo," Syed says, reflecting on the two decades the community has used a small student room at La Trobe University for prayers.
Neelam adds, "There's a lot of community spirit that's gone into this. There's a lot of love, a lot of heart."
