The Prajna Temple was founded in 1972, by Australian-Cantonese businessman Eric Changxing Liao, in the heart of Sydney’s ‘Chinatown’ above the Say Tin Fong Grocers. It was the first Chinese Buddhist Temple in Australia. The walls were adorned with a mural of the Vajra Hell, in the style of the Dunhuang Caves, and the temple housed the full Buddhist Canon. 

While Chinese in origin, and catering to the Chinese community and students, the Prajna Temple also acted as a hub for a much wider audience, where many Australians were offered their first contact with Buddhism. Mr Liao hosted diverse teachings at the Temple from many Buddhist traditions, including Pure Land, Zen, Korean, Thai Forest, and Tibetan. Notable visiting teachers included Phra Mahasami, Phra Khantipalo and Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who were popular among the counter-cultural hippies.¹ 

 The temple was destroyed by fire in 1985, but the Buddha images and Buddhist scriptures remained intact. The temple community continued to practise in various locations across Sydney, including Asquith, Hornsby, Wingello, and Revesby. In 2008 the Prajna temple was renamed ‘Ding Hui Monastery’ and in 2014 relocated to Shelley Street, Campsie. Under the leadership of the current Abbot, Venerable Zhengyun, Ding Hui Monastery continues to conduct Dharma classes, retreats and counselling services. It also organises meditation retreats at the Ding Hui Meditation Centre in Maroota.² 

By: Ruth Fitzpatrick and Anna Halafoff 

References: 

¹ Paul Croucher, Buddhism in Australia: 1848–1988 (New South Wales University Press, 1989); Laurence Mills, “The Chenrezig Insititue [sic] is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in September with the ‘Big Love Festival.’ Interesting to see on their website that Laurence, then Phra Khantipalo, was there in the early days (the ’70s) with Lama Zopa and Lama Yeshe,” Facebook, July 14, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/p/Laurence-Mills-100032094494049/. 

 
² “定慧寺起源 (The Origin of Ding Hui Monastery),” Ding Hui Monastery, accessed September 1, 2026, https://www.dinghuimonastery.org.au/#qiyuan; “Dinghui monastery,” Ding Hui Monastery, 2026, https://www.instagram.com/dinghui_monastery/.