About the Temple
The Sky Temple is a planned Buddhist Temple and Zen Meditation Centre, nestled in the beautiful Mallee Sky Gardens, near Mildura, Victoria.
The Sky Temple follows the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, known as the 'father of mindfulness' and the founder of 'Engaged Buddhism.' The Temple will bring together Buddhist wisdom and Zen practice with art and nature — a peaceful sanctuary for meditation, yoga, and community celebrations.
Planning permission has been granted by Council. A Bodhi tree has been planted. Visitors from around the world have come to bless the site. The Foundation Stone has been laid. Building is anticipated to commence early in 2027.
Architectural concept design for the proposed Sky Temple at 548 Morpung Avenue, Irymple.
How It Began
In 2019 Ven. Thich Thanh Chan was asked to come to Mildura to set up a Temple for the practice of Zen Buddhism. Walking in the Sky Garden one day she met the creator of the garden, Helen Vivian, and told her about her plans. Ross and Helen had recently acquired an adjoining property and were expanding the Sky Garden — they offered a portion of the newly landscaped block to Ven. Thich Thanh Chan. Many monks and nuns from all over the world visited the garden and stayed in the guest house over the following years, and when it was clear that the site was considered suitable for a Temple, the process of applying for planning permission began.
Find Us
Located within the Mallee Sky Garden, approximately 10 minutes from Mildura CBD.
Story of Country
"The Mallee Sky Garden, in Victoria's north-west corner, lies within the ancient ancestral lands of the Nyeri Nyeri Peoples. The People of the Nyeri Nyeri are thankful and welcome this beautiful garden to take its position within these lands and most importantly to continue its gift of forever giving life."
— Mark Grist, Grist Anthropology
Our Spiritual Advisor
"Engaged Buddhism is the inspirational path which I try to follow in my life and teaching."
Ven. Thich Thanh Chan studied under the great Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, at his Temple in Plum Village, in France. His teachings will be central to the meditation and yoga sessions and retreats provided at the Sky Temple, along with walking meditations, community gatherings, art and cultural events, and multicultural celebrations.
Ven. Thich Thanh Chan describes the Buddhist Temple as a place where three jewels exist: The Buddha (the founder, teacher), The Dharma (source of teachings), and The Sangha (students, learners, followers).
Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) was a Vietnamese monk, poet, peace activist, and author of more than 100 books. He studied Comparative Religion at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1961, then taught Buddhism at Columbia University and the Sorbonne. A tireless advocate for ending the Vietnam War, he led the Buddhist delegation to the 1969 Paris Peace Talks. His friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. led to his Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1967, with King describing him as "an apostle of peace and non-violence."
Through books, recordings, and art, Thich Nhat Hanh shared his teachings across all sectors of society worldwide. He coined the term "interbeing" in the 1980s, pioneering Buddhist deep ecology and emphasising humanity's inseparability from the natural world.
He passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, aged 95, at his root temple in Hue, Vietnam.
The Sky Temple has received strong support from Buddhist communities throughout the world, especially the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Australia and New Zealand. We thank everyone who has helped us on our temple building journey and hold their love and generosity with gratitude in our hearts.
Mallee Sky Garden
In the Sky Garden, a white-faced Heron has taken up residence. There are ducks on the pond and Spring fills the garden with blooms and the humming of bees.
The Sky Garden is a 30-acre sanctuary for rare and endangered Australian plants. Local fauna has flourished among the great diversity of plants. Birds have flocked in to make a home near three ornamental lakes. Butterflies and bees pollinate the orchard across the year-round flowering of diverse species.
The Sky Garden is deeply committed to increasing awareness of the ecology and distinctive flora of the area, and to developing a deep understanding of the cultural history of this place.
What's On
Join us for meditation any Saturday morning at the site of the future Sky Temple, 548 Morpung Avenue, Irymple. Open to anyone who wishes to attend. A small donation can be made on-site or online.
Launch of Design Plans, Walking Meditation in the Sky Garden, Live Music Performances & a Vietnamese Community hosted Vegetarian Lunch.
Our History
A record of our gatherings, teachings, and community celebrations. We are grateful to all who joined us on these occasions.
Buddha's Birthday is one of the greatest spiritual and cultural festivals for Buddhists around the world. Ven. Thich Thanh Chan invited the community to join the celebration. May the Three Treasures protect us and support our ceremony.
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A dedication ceremony for the Sky Temple led by visiting monastics from all over Australia. A foundation stone was laid at the foot of the new marble statue of the female Buddha. Architectural drawings were on display.
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A Rose Ceremony held at the Sky Temple site in remembrance of our ancestors. A beautiful and moving occasion honouring those who came before us.
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The generous community of the Hoa Nghiêm Temple, Springvale, hosted a fundraising dinner for the Sky Temple. We thank the Venerable Thich Thien Tam and his Temple community for their extraordinary kindness.
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The generous community of the Chua Quang Minh Temple, Braybrook hosted a fundraising dinner for the Sky Temple. We thank the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan and his Temple community for their extraordinary kindness.
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A vibrant community has formed to build the Sky Temple in Mildura. Visitors have come from all over the world to bless the site and take part in ceremonies. A walking meditation and community lunch was held at the Temple site, 548 Morpung Ave, Irymple — with a guided meditation through the Sky Garden, followed by lunch and entertainment.
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A beautiful ceremony was held on 12th May 2024 to bless the Sky Temple site. Monks and nuns from across Australia and around the world came together to mark this significant milestone in our temple building journey.
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The generous community of the Ấn Quang Pagoda in Cairnlea, Melbourne hosted a fundraising dinner for the Sky Temple, raising $31,000. We thank the Venerable Thich Thien Tam and his Temple community for their extraordinary kindness.
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A New Year celebration with ceremonial blessing and planting of the Bodhi tree in the Sky Garden — a symbol of enlightenment and the spiritual heart of the Temple site.
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Fundraising for the Sky Temple began in November 2023. Our Stage 1 target of $250,000 has been achieved. Thank you! Now we are aiming for the Stage 2 target of $1 million.
Visitors from across the world have come to bless the site and engage in ceremonies. We have planted a Bodhi Tree, laid the Foundation Stone and planning permission has been granted. We are preparing building plans and hope to start construction in 2027.
We are very grateful for the generosity of our local community and the Buddhist community in Melbourne, particularly the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan of Chua Quang Minh Buddhist Centre, the Venerable Thich Thien Tam of the Australia Buddhist Centre at the Ấn Quang Pagoda, the Venerable Thich Thien Tam of the Hoa Nghiêm Temple in Springvale and their communities. We are deeply grateful for the magnificent fundraising feasts they organised on our behalf and for their love and kindness to our community.
The Sky Temple will provide a sanctuary of peace and calm, bringing together the wisdom of Buddhist teaching and Zen practice, with art and nature, to create a community centre of growth, healing and learning.
"We cannot separate human beings from the environment. The environment is in human beings and human beings are part of the environment."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Our Journey
Our Temple building journey began in 2019. Many monks and nuns from all over the world have visited the Temple site since, bringing many blessings and ceremonies.
Gratitude
We are very grateful for the generosity of our local community and the Buddhist community in Melbourne, particularly the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan of Chua Quang Minh Buddhist Centre, the Venerable Thich Thien Tam of the Australia Buddhist Centre at the Ấn Quang Pagoda, the Venerable Thich Thien Tam of the Hoa Nghiêm Temple in Springvale and their communities. We are deeply grateful for the magnificent fundraising feasts they organised on our behalf and for their love and kindness to our community.
Photo: Sky Temple Fundraiser November 2023, Ấn Quang Pagoda.
Make a Difference
Every gift brings us closer to breaking ground.
Stage 1 target of $250,000 achieved. Thank you!
Now we are aiming for the Stage 2 target of $1 million.
Visitors from across the world have come to bless the site. We have planted a Bodhi Tree, laid the Foundation Stone and planning permission has been granted. We are preparing building plans and hope to start construction in 2027.
All donations are gratefully received.
Donations can also be made by Direct Debit
Sky Temple Ltd · BSB: 083 764 · A/C: 711 887 971
Sky Temple Ltd is a not-for-profit registered charity · ABN: 677 234 892
