Monash Religious Centre turns 45
The Religious Centre as it looked in 1968.
The Religious Centre at the University’s Clayton campus is still meeting the spiritual needs of the community 45 years after it was officially opened.
Dedicated on 9 June 1968, the Religious Centre has provided a multi-faith centre for members of all faiths from the University and local communities. Today it is used for services, weddings, christenings, funerals, memorials, private prayer and seminars.
The Religious Centre was planned by the Christian and Jewish communities of Melbourne as a space that could be used by all religious groups. The funds were raised by the two communities and the building was then gifted to the University, to distance it from any one religious tradition. The Centre was unique at the time, being the first religious centre located at an Australian university.
It was designed by John Mockridge of the Melbourne architectural firm Mockridge Stahle & Mitchell; the circular shape was seen as a symbol of unity, eternity and ecumenical feeling.
It was intended to be a place that would cater for services of different denominations and today, with the growth of a significant non-Western student population at the University, it has been increasingly used by other religious groups, including Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, thereby fulfilling the vision of the University’s founders and leading churchmen of the day.
The Religious Centre was listed by the Heritage Victoria in 2008 because of its historical and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.
The Religious Centre is open for reflection and prayer Monday to Friday, from 8am to 7pm. For information on weekend services, visit the Catholics at Monash website or Monash Orthodox website.