Chenrezig Institute was founded in 1974, by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and was the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Australia. It was built on land donated by their Australian students Nicholas Ribush and Marie Obst (now Venerable Yeshe Khadro) and Tom and Kathy Vichta.¹ The Tibetan Lamas had a profound influence on Buddhism in Australia, attracting many hippy seekers, some who ordained and are among Australia’s most prominent Buddhist teachers, including Venerable Robina Courtin, Venerable Tony Beaumont and Venerable Thubten Chokyi.  

Chenrezig Institute comprises a gompa (temple), resident teacher Geshe Thubten Tsultrim’s quarters, accommodation for monks, nuns, and lay followers, a library, memorial gardens and the vegetarian Big Love Café.  It is set among lush tropical gardens in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and continues to attract many visitors. 

Chenrezig Institute is part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, with affiliated centres around Australia and globally.²   

By: Ruth Fitzpatrick and Anna Halafoff 

References: 

¹ Adele Hulse, Big Love, The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe (Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, 2020); “Our Story,” Chenrezig Institute, accessed May 19, 2026, https://chenrezig.com.au/chenrezig-story; Paul Croucher, Buddhism in Australia: 1848–1988 (New South Wales University Press, 1989). 

² “Home,” Chenrezig Institute, accessed May 19, 2026, https://chenrezig.com.au; “Home,” Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), accessed May 19, 2026, https://fpmt.org.