Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne, The Melbourne Thai Buddhist Temple
Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne, also known as The Melbourne Thai Buddhist Temple was founded in 1986 by Thai monk Phra Dhammakunaporn, (Paiboon). The vision to do so was inspired by Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, a senior Thai Buddhist monk influential in the leadership role in the Thai Sangha (the monastic order). When he learned that there were few Thai Buddhist monks in Australia, despite having a thriving Thai community, they both felt it would be auspicious to begin a Buddhist temple in Australia.1
In 1984 Phra Dhammakunaporn travelled to Australia with 12 senior monks to assess the viability of their vision. They received significant encouragement from the Thai Australian community, and by 1986 they purchased a property in Mont Albert Melbourne and established a temple there. It remains the location of the temple to this day. Phra Khru Kampeepanyawithet (Phramaha Boonsom Kamphirapanyo) is the current Abbot of Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne Australia.2
Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne hosts daily rituals including morning and evening chanting, as well as food offering to monks. Throughout the year the temple offers regular Dhamma teachings and observes significant events and ceremonies including New Year’s Eve chanting, Ullamana Festival (Hungry Ghost Festival), Songkran Festival (Thai New Year), Vesak and Asalha Puju.3 The temple also offers cultural workshops which include women’s self-defense, Karate, Muay Thai, Traditional Thai dance among other events.4
By: Ruth Fitzpatrick and Anna Halafoff
References:
1 “About Us”, Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne Buddhist Temple, accessed August 26, 2026, https://www.watthaimelbourne.com.au/about-us.
2 Wat Thai Nakorn, “About Us”.
3 “Events”, Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne Buddhist Temple, accessed August 26, 2026, https://www.watthaimelboune.com.au/events; Wat Thai Melbourne Facebook Page, accessed August 26, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/watthaimelbourne/.
4 “Home”, Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne Buddhist Temple, accessed August 26, 2026, https://www.watthaimelbourne.com.au/home; “Photos”, Wat Thai Melbourne Facebook Page, accessed August 26, 2026, https://www.facebook.com/watthaimelbourne/photos.