Who We Are
Our Temple, Our Faith, Our Community
Khmer Buddhist Temple Melbourne — Wat Buddharangsi, operated by the Cambodian Buddhist Association of Victoria Incorporated, has a history deeply connected to the Khmer Australian community.
Following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, many Cambodian people were displaced from their homeland.
Families endured years of hardship, uncertainty and separation, with many seeking refuge in camps along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
In the early 1980s, Australia welcomed Cambodian refugees and gave many families the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a new country.
As more Khmer families settled in Australia, a new community began to take shape. People worked hard to establish new lives, raise their children and adapt to a new language and culture. Yet amid these new beginnings, there remained a strong desire to preserve something deeply important — our Buddhist faith, our Khmer heritage, our culture and our connection with one another.
Khmer Buddhist monks, elders and members of the community recognised the need for a place where everyone could come together — a place to pray, to celebrate, to support one another and simply to feel that they belonged.
There could be no better place than a Khmer Buddhist temple.
A temple where our monks could continue to teach the Buddha’s teachings and guide the community.
A place where our elders could find familiarity, friendship and spiritual comfort.
A place where families could gather for important Buddhist ceremonies and Khmer traditions.
And a place where younger generations could learn about the faith, culture and heritage of their parents and grandparents.
From this shared hope, Wat Buddharangsi was born.
Built by the Community
Wat Buddharangsi did not come into existence through the efforts of one person or one group. It was built through the collective faith, generosity and determination of the Khmer community.
Over the years, countless people have contributed in different ways.
More Than a Temple
Today, Wat Buddharangsi is more than a Khmer Buddhist temple in Melbourne — it is a spiritual home for the Khmer Australian community.
It is a place where religion, heritage, culture and community come together.
It connects the generations who remember Cambodia with the generations who were born and raised in Australia.
It is a place where we can practise and learn the Buddha’s teachings, preserve Khmer traditions and language, honour our elders, celebrate together and ensure that our cultural heritage continues for generations to come.
Our history began with people searching for a place to belong.
Through faith, generosity and community spirit, they created one.
With Our Deepest Gratitude
We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our Buddhist monks, our elders, our Khmer community, our donors and every volunteer — past and present — who has contributed to Wat Buddharangsi.
To those whose names are well known, and especially to those who have quietly worked behind the scenes, your contributions are part of the history of this temple.
You have helped build more than a place of worship.
You have helped preserve our faith, carry forward our heritage, strengthen our culture and keep our community together.
For that, we are deeply grateful.
Wat Buddharangsi belongs to all of us — built by our community, sustained by our faith, and preserved for generations to come.