The Australian Buddhist Vihara, in the Blue Mountains’ town of Katoomba, was officially opened on Vesak, May 1973. It was led by Venerable Ratmalane Somaloka a young Sri Lankan monk who arrived in Australia in 1971, on the invitation of Charles Knight and the Buddhist Society of New South Wales. Dedicated to the Sri-Lankan Theravadan tradition it was founded in collaboration with a small, dedicated group of Somaloka’s Australian students and built on land donated by Elva & Jurgis Mikesevicius.¹ It also contains a large wooden Guan Yin statue, donated to Venerable Somaloka by a member of the Chinese Australian community.²  

The Vihara was built by these students over a period of nine years, as part of their Buddhist practice, alongside receiving teachings and meditation training from Venerable Samaloka.³ He remained the resident monk and teacher until 2000, after which time the Vihara Trust ran the monastery with Sri Lankan monk, Venerable Kovida who became its abbot. In 2025 Sri Lankan monk Venerable Mudita took on this role.⁴ 

The Vihara has throughout its history catered both for Anglo-European Australian spiritual seekers and Sri Lankan Australians visiting from Sydney and beyond. It combines a focus on meditation, including intensive meditation retreats and traditional Buddhist practices. The vihara offers a twice daily service, with Pali chanting and meditation led by the resident monk. It also runs meditation intensive retreats and is an active participant in the local community.⁵ 

Authors: Ruth Fitzpatrick, Anna Halafoff 

References: 

¹ Lithuanian-born Jurgin Mikesevicius went on to become a renowned artist with Buddhism one of several significant influences on his work: https://www.lndm.lt/jurgio-mikseviciaus-pasauliai-2/?lang=en 

² Paul Croucher, Buddhism in Australia: 1848–1988 (New South Wales University Press, 1989); Rene Buddhism in Australia, “Australian Buddhist Vihara | Rene and Jane Buhler,” posted November 21, 2025, YouTube, 12:26, https://youtu.be/aT2zwRvjmCM. 

³ Australian Buddhist Vihara | Rene and Jane Buhler, Interview. 

⁴ Ratmalane Somaloka, “Ven Somaloka, Dhammavijaya Buddhist Vihara”, unpublished audio interview by Anna Halafoff, Buddhism in Australia Project; Rene & Jane Buhler, Interview. 

⁵ Australian Buddhist Vihara | Rene and Jane Buhler, Interview.