Buddhism in Australia

Buddhism has been part of Australian life for more than 150 years. Today it is one of the larger religions in the country, with temples, monasteries and groups from almost every Buddhist tradition.

Early arrivals

The first sizeable Buddhist presence came in the nineteenth century. Chinese migrants arrived during the gold rushes of the 1850s and later, and many brought a mix of Buddhist, Taoist and folk religious practice. Temples, often called joss houses, were built in places such as Victoria and New South Wales, and a few survive. Later in the century, Sinhalese migrants from Sri Lanka settled in north Queensland, and Japanese pearl divers worked in places such as Broome.

The White Australia policy, from 1901, greatly limited migration from Asia for much of the twentieth century. Interest continued among a small number of Australians who learned about Buddhism through books and visiting teachers. Some of the first Buddhist societies were formed in the mid-twentieth century.

Growth after the 1970s

Buddhism grew strongly after the end of the White Australia policy in the 1970s. Refugees and migrants from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and later from China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and elsewhere, built temples and community centres. At the same time, more Australians became interested in meditation and invited teachers from Asia.

As a result, Australia now has Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana communities, including Thai forest monasteries, Chinese and Vietnamese temples, Tibetan centres, Zen groups and Nichiren organisations. Some groups serve particular language communities. Others teach mainly in English.

Buddhism in the census

The Australian census asks an optional question on religion. In the 2021 census, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 2.4 per cent of people identified as Buddhist. That places Buddhism among the larger religions in Australia, alongside Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Figures vary from one census to the next, so it is best to check the latest ABS release.

Councils and organisations

Many Buddhist groups work together through state councils, such as the Buddhist Council of NSW, and through the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils at national level. These bodies represent Buddhist communities to government and support activities such as chaplaincy and religious education in schools.

A diverse community

Buddhism in Australia is not one thing. It includes long-established families, new migrants and converts, and many ways of practising. What they share is the teaching of the Buddha and a respect for the different paths that grew from it.