“A gift to all Australians.” That’s how Mr Nguyen Chanh Giao described the Cao Dai Temple of NSW. This temple stands as a testament to faith community and cultural fusion. Before the impressive Cao Dai Temple of NSW stood here Caodaists in Sydney gathered in a humble rented house. It was at 132 Campbell Street St Peters that they first worshipped.
Imagine that small altar dedicated to Duc Cao Dai God the Father. By the mid-1980s the Campbell Street house became too small for the growing community. The Caodaists needed a new place to worship. They considered buying the house for extensions. However, the land was affected by development plans. The community decided to look elsewhere.
They even considered buying an old Christian church believing it would be easier to get approval. From 1986 to 1990 they searched for a suitable site. The community placed a deposit on a small ex-Anglican church in Tempe. It seemed like a compromise but fate had other plans. A meeting was held in Bankstown to raise money for the Tempe church. The followers of Duc Cao Dai God the Father were amazed. In one day they raised over $120000.00. Now they had enough money to buy a block of land. But they were locked into the church sale. Then another amazing thing happened. The titles to the church could not be found. The sale fell through. The Caodaists of Sydney were able to buy the block of land on King Georges Road in Wiley Park.
Here at 114-118 King Georges Road the Cao Dai Temple of NSW began to take shape. The foundation stone was laid on 20 November 1991. This day marked the beginning of nine years of volunteer labor. Hundreds of people dedicated their time and effort. New immigrants worked their jobs during the week. They studied in the evenings. Weekends were spent building the temple.
Some helped with bricklaying carpentry and painting. Others handled paperwork. Some even turned their gardens into food sources. This food was cooked for the workers. The construction of the Cao Dai Temple of NSW became a community-building activity. On 6 December 1992 the altar and the image of the Divine Eye were moved from St Peters to this new building. Regular worship has been taking place here ever since.
Look closely and you’ll notice unique details. A few features like the statues on the altar canopy were shipped from Vietnam. But most of the building from the windows to the dragon columns was crafted by local volunteers. For those familiar with Dao Cao Dai architecture these Australian-crafted features give the Cao Dai Temple of NSW a distinct local feel.
The Cao Dai Temple of NSW has been adapted to suit its location. It uses Australian materials and building standards. It still captures the essence of Dao Cao Dai architecture. The temple stands as a symbol of unity and cultural exchange.
On 18 November 2000 the Cao Dai Temple of NSW was officially opened. The Hon Philip Ruddock MP Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs represented the Australian people. The opening marked a new stage in the development of Cao Dai Religion. The Cao Dai Temple of NSW became the first purpose-built temple of its kind outside Asia. It cemented the religion’s place as both an Eastern and a Western phenomenon. The Cao Dai Temple of NSW stands as a testament to the dedication of its community. It embodies the spirit of cultural exchange and religious harmony.