Type of centre: Temple

Contact details Address: 95 Bank Rd, Graceville (mail: P.O. Box 83, Indooroopilly) QLD 4068 Australia Ph: +61-(0)7-33795455 Fax: +61-(0)7-33795880 E-mail: brisbane@pamho.net Website: www.iskcon.org.au

Brief details of centre The Brisbane temple was started at St Lucia in 1979. In 1983 the temple opened in Graceville by the Brisbane river, and Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai were brought there. Plans are well underway to start an entire new temple project with a school, housing and more at Jindalee.

Deities: Sri Sri Gaura Nitai When installed: Sri Sri Gaura Nitai were originally caste by Bhaskara Dasa in Melbourne, and were installed in a travelling temple-bus. Later they resided at New Govardhana farm, in the "White House," before moving to the present temple.

Other Information:

Food for Life
At Brunswick St in Fortitude Valley, Hare Krishna Food for Life or "Krishna's Cafe" provides very low cost meals of Krishna prasada. For many who eat there, it is a welcome relief in their state of financial shortage. Others, who have no apparent poverty, eat there just because the food is so good. One "down and out" looking youth was overheard commenting that the yuppies seem to think it is cool to be seen eating at Food for Life. Food for Life has enhanced public respect for Hare Krishna devotees in Brisbane. City managers and others have often praised the devotees for this selfless work. On the 23th of November 1996, devotees celebrated Feed the World Day, making a giant Krishna cake and distributing it in the Fortitude Valley Mall. City Council Alderman David Hinchcliffe helped cut the cake and presented a speech extolling the valuable service Hare Krishna Food for Life offers.

Rathayatra Festival
The Brisbane City Council so much wanted Lord Jagannatha's Chariot to be in their annual parade that they paid for the transport of the huge wooden chariot from Murwillumbah, NSW, and for the flowers to decorate it. Although Brisbane is sunny almost every day in winter, on the night of the parade in early spring there was a downpour. Not to worry, the City Council had weather insurance, and a week later the parade was on. As devotees towed the large, yellow and red chariot by ropes through the city streets, the crowds cheered and clapped, shouting greetings. The devotees chanted Hare Krishna exuberantly, waving to the crowds; and the transcendental "float" rolled by, with its glowing red and yellow cloth dome, illumined from within, appearing as a beacon in the night sky.

Govindas
Brisbane's food for the body, mind and soul. 99 Elizabeth Street: Mon-Fri 11:30am–2:30pm Fri night 5:30–8:00pm Saturdays from 11am—2.30pm.

Right across the street from the Myers complex in downtown Brisbane, Govinda's offers relief from the junk food of the material world. With delicious vegie preps, hot rice, pakoras, papadams, samosas, salad, hot halava and thirst quenching drinks, Govinda's has to be the value for money eating spot in town. Hundreds daily patronise Govinda's, where dedicated devotee cooks carefully prepare vegetarian Krishna prasada (Krishna's mercy) daily.

Glory of India Project
Local devotees are developing an exciting new project which will form the base for Krishna consciousness in the area for many years to come. On 12.5 acres at Jindalee, which is not far from central Brisbane, they plan to build a temple community over the next five years or so. The plan, to be executed in stages, includes a Temple and Worship Hall/Auditorium, a community hall and restaurant, a school, accommodation, recreation grounds and parking. The Temple will be approximately 425 square metres ground floor area.

The worship hall/auditorium will be on the ground level and the temple itself on the second floor level. The worship hall will be 625 square meters. The community hall will include a communal eating area and will be 800 square meters. On the ground floor of this building will be the school for approximately 80 to 100 children of primary school age (6–12 years). This will include a standard educational curriculum enhanced by religious studies.

Adjacent to the community building will be a recreation area for the school and visitors to the centre. Accomodation for single devotees will include four community dwellings for up to eight devotees each in dormitory style housing, and for married couples six duplex style buildings providing twelve dwelling units in town house style.

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