Swaminarayan Temple In Australia's Melbourne Defaced With Hate Graffiti: Report

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 08:39 IST

The Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia, Australia, was defaced with hate graffiti, along with two nearby Asian-run restaurants. An investigation into the incidents has begun.

Swaminarayan Temple in Australia's Boronia (Photo: Official Website)

The Swaminarayan Temple in Australia’s Boronia was defaced with hate slurs painted in red graffiti, The Australia Today reported. The targeted temple is located on Wadhurst Drive and the incident happened on July 21.

The report claimed that the same hate messages, scribbled on the walls of the temple, also appeared on two nearby Asian‑run restaurants.

Meanwhile, Makrand Bhagwat, chief of the Hindu Council of Australia, Victoria chapter, condemned the attack on the temple and said, “Our temple is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, devotion and unity. Seeing it vandalised felt like an attack on our identity, our right to worship and freedom of religion", the report claimed.

Bhagwat also noted that the Shree Swaminarayan Temple hosts daily prayers, community meals and cultural festivals, drawing congregants from across Melbourne’s Indian diaspora.

The report said the Victoria Police had begun an investigation into the four linked incidents in Boronia, including the temple and two restaurants.

“The police are investigating following reports of graffiti in Bayswater and Boronia on July 21," A Victoria Police spokesperson told The Australia Today.

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