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Buddhism is a minority religion in Australia, with 610,000 adherents or 2.4% of the population, as of the 2021 census. It is the fourth-largest religion in the country, after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The history of Buddhism in Australia is complex and multifaceted, with the first clear example of Buddhist settlement dating back to 1858, although there is speculation of earlier contact through Indonesian traders. Since then, Buddhism has grown and evolved in Australia, with significant developments including the arrival of various Buddhist groups and immigrants from Asia, the establishment of temples and organizations, and the growing interest in mindfulness and meditation practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Buddhists in Australia | 2.4% (2021 census) |
| Number of Buddhists in Australia | 610,000 (2021 census) |
| Fastest-growing religion in Australia | Yes |
| Highest percentage of Buddhists in Australia | Christmas Island (18.1% in 2016) |
| First Buddhist group to arrive in Australia | A troupe of acrobats and jugglers from Japan (1867) |
| First clear example of Buddhist settlement in Australia | 1858 |
| Oldest Buddhist structure in Australia | Two Bodhi Trees on Thursday Island (1890s) |
| First ordination of Bhikkhunis in Australia | Dhammasara Nuns Monastery, Perth (2009) |
| Year Buddhism began to spread in Australia | Late 1970s |
| Main reason for the spread of Buddhism in Australia | Immigration from South East Asia |
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What You'll Learn
The growth of Buddhism in Australia
Buddhism is currently a minority religion in Australia, with 610,000 or 2.4% of the population identifying as Buddhist in the 2021 census. However, it is the fourth largest religion in the country and the fastest-growing by percentage, with an increase of 79% between the 1996 and 2001 censuses. The highest percentage of Buddhists in Australia is on Christmas Island, where they constitute 18.1% of the total population as of the 2016 census.
The first clear example of Buddhist settlement in Australia dates to 1858, with speculation from anthropologists that there may have been contact much earlier. The first Buddhist group to arrive was a troupe of acrobats and jugglers from Japan in 1867, with more arrivals throughout the century, many of whom worked in the pearling industry in northern Australia. The first Sinhalese Buddhists from Sri Lanka arrived in 1870, and a community was believed to exist on Thursday Island in 1876. A Buddhist temple was built there, with two Bodhi Trees planted in the 1890s remaining the oldest structures attesting to the establishment of Buddhism in Australia.
In the late 1970s, Buddhism became more widespread, mainly due to immigration from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War, and the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Western countries. This was supplemented by further immigration from Asia in the following decades, with three-quarters of Australian Buddhists being born outside of Australia. In the 1980s, religious institutions with resident monks were established, and the first ordination of Bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns) in Australia took place in 2009.
The mindfulness movement, emphasising awareness and secular meditation, became increasingly popular in the 2010s. The Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies and the University of Melbourne Contemplative Studies Centre opened in 2021, reflecting a broader social interest in the nature of the mind.
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The history of Buddhism in Australia
Buddhism is a minority religion in Australia, with 2.4% of the population (or around 610,000-615,800 people) identifying as Buddhist in the 2021 census. It is the fourth-largest religion in the country, after Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. The highest percentage of Buddhists in Australia is on Christmas Island, where they constituted 18.1% of the population as of the 2016 census.
The first clear example of Buddhist settlement in Australia dates to 1858, when a troupe of acrobats and jugglers from Japan toured the country. More Buddhists arrived throughout the century, many working in the pearling industry in northern Australia, and in sugarcane plantations in Queensland. The oldest remaining structure from this time is a pair of Bodhi Trees planted on Thursday Island in the 1890s, where a temple once stood.
In 1891, the American Buddhist Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, co-founder of the Theosophical Society, visited Australia and gave lectures on Buddhism and Theosophy. This led to a greater awareness of Buddhism in small circles of mainly upper-class society. In 1910, the British-born monk U Sasana Dhaja arrived from Burma, becoming the first monk in Australia. The Buddhist Study Group Melbourne, the first specific Buddhist group, was formed in 1938 by Len Bullen, but it collapsed during the Second World War.
In the late 1970s, Buddhism became more widespread in Australia, largely due to immigration from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. This was supplemented by the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Western countries, led by figures such as Lama Yeshe and Sogyal Rinpoche. In the 1980s, interest in Buddhism continued to grow, and the first ordination of Bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns) in Australia took place in 2009.
In the 2010s, the Mindfulness movement, emphasising awareness and secular meditation, became increasingly popular. The Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies and the University of Melbourne Contemplative Studies Centre opened in 2021, reflecting a broader social interest in the nature of the mind.
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The impact of immigration on the spread of Buddhism
Buddhism in Australia has been significantly influenced by immigration, which has played a key role in its spread and growth over the years. The first clear example of Buddhist settlement in Australia dates back to 1858, with some anthropological speculation suggesting even earlier contact through Indonesian traders.
The arrival of the first Sinhalese Buddhists from Sri Lanka in 1870 marked the beginning of Buddhist communities in the country, particularly on Thursday Island. Over time, more Buddhists arrived, including those involved in the pearling industry in northern Australia and those seeking refuge following the Vietnam War. This wave of immigration from Southeast Asia in the 1970s contributed to the widespread growth of Buddhism in Australia.
The 1980s saw the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Western countries, including Australia, led by figures such as Lama Yeshe and Sogyal Rinpoche, who established religious institutions with resident monks. Senior Vietnamese monk, Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, also played a significant role in the establishment of the Vietnamese Buddhist Federation of Australia in 1981.
The establishment of Buddhist organizations, such as the Buddhist Study Group Melbourne in 1938 and the Buddhist Society of Victoria in 1953, has also contributed to the growth and spread of Buddhism in Australia. The mindfulness movement, which gained popularity in the 2010s, further emphasized awareness and secular meditation practices, attracting a broader range of interest.
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The role of influential figures in establishing Buddhist institutions
Buddhism in Australia has been influenced by several prominent figures who have played a significant role in establishing Buddhist institutions and shaping the religious landscape. One notable figure is Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, an American Buddhist and co-founder of the Theosophical Society. In 1891, Olcott visited Australia and delivered lectures on Buddhism and Theosophy, raising awareness of Buddhist teachings among the Australian populace.
The arrival of Buddhist monks from Asia has also been instrumental in establishing Buddhist institutions in Australia. In 1971, Venerable Somaloka, a young Sri Lankan monk, was invited by the Buddhist Society of New South Wales, leading to the opening of the first monastery in NSW, the Australian Buddhist Vihara, in 1973. In 1975, the first Thai temple in Australia, Wat Buddharangsee, was established in Stanmore by the Crown Prince of Thailand. In 1976, the Sydney Zen Centre was founded in Annandale, and in 1978, Wat Buddha Dhamma was established in Wiseman's Ferry by British monk Phra Khantipalo and German nun Ayya Khema.
The spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Western countries, including Australia, was influenced by figures such as Lama Yeshe and Sogyal Rinpoche in the 1980s. Lama Yeshe established religious institutions with resident monks, while Sogyal Rinpoche founded the Rigpa organization. Their efforts contributed to the growing presence of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia.
Additionally, the formation of Buddhist organizations and associations has been pivotal in fostering Buddhist communities and institutions in Australia. Len Bullen founded the first specific Buddhist group, the Buddhist Study Group Melbourne, in 1938. Although it disbanded during World War II, other groups emerged, such as the Buddhist Society of Victoria in 1953 and the Buddhist Society of New South Wales in 1956. These societies played a crucial role in discussing and promoting Buddhist teachings during the mid-20th century.
The visit of the Dalai Lama to Sydney in 1983 also attracted significant attention and contributed to the growing interest in Buddhism. Furthermore, the work of F.L. Woodward, a former principal of Mahinda College in Sri Lanka, is noteworthy. Woodward settled in Tasmania in 1919 and dedicated 33 years to translating the Pali Canon for the Pali Text Society, providing valuable contributions to the dissemination of Buddhist scriptures in Australia.
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The acceptance of Buddhism in Australian society
Buddhism is currently a minority religion in Australia, with 610,000 to 615,800 Australians identifying as Buddhist, constituting 2.4% of the total population according to the 2021 census. It is the fourth-largest religion in the country after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. However, Buddhism used to have the highest percentage growth of all religions in Australia, with an increase of 79% in the number of adherents from the 1996 to the 2001 census. The number of Buddhists in Australia has continued to grow, with an increase of 20.8% between 2011 and 2016.
The first clear example of Buddhist settlement in Australia dates back to 1858, with some anthropologists speculating that there may have been contact with Buddhism in Australia hundreds of years earlier. The first Buddhist group to arrive in Australia was a troupe of acrobats and jugglers from Japan who toured in 1867. In the 1870s, Sinhalese migrants from Sri Lanka arrived in Queensland and the Torres Strait, and a Buddhist temple was built on Thursday Island. The oldest remaining structures that attest to the establishment of Buddhism in Australia are two Bodhi Trees planted on Thursday Island in the 1890s.
In the late 1970s, Buddhism began to spread more widely in Australia, mainly due to immigration from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War and the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Western countries. In the 1980s, the growing presence of Buddhism in Australia was further supplemented by the establishment of religious institutions with resident monks and the founding of Buddhist organizations. During this time, there was also a growing understanding of Buddhism in the broader Australian community. In the 1990s, interest in Buddhism continued to grow rapidly, and in 2009, the first ordination of Bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns) took place in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Buddhism first came to Australia in 1848 with the arrival of Chinese people on the Victorian goldfields.
From the 1901 census until the 1960s, the number of Buddhists in Australia remained small but significant. With increased migration from Asian countries from the 1970s onwards, Buddhism became the second-largest religion in Australia after Christianity. According to the 2021 census, 610,000-615,800 Australians identified as Buddhist, constituting 2.4% of the total population.
All three of the main traditions of Buddhism are represented in Australia: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
Three-quarters of Australian Buddhists were born outside Australia, and more than 80% speak a language other than English at home. Therefore, it can be inferred that around 20% of Australian Buddhists were born in Australia.
In the 1890s, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, the co-founder of the Theosophical Society, visited Australia and gave lectures on Buddhism and Theosophy. In the late 1970s, Tibetan Buddhism spread to Western countries, including Australia, led by figures such as Lama Yeshe and Sogyal Rinpoche. In the 1980s, the mindfulness movement, emphasising awareness and secular meditation, became increasingly popular. The broader social interest in Buddhism is reflected in the acceptance of meditation in academia, with the Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies and the University of Melbourne Contemplative Studies Centre opening in 2021.
