Victoria

The Baha’is of Victoria are actively engaged in neighbourhood community development activities that are open to all regardless of faith or background.

This includes providing spiritual empowerment programs for junior youth aged 11-14, spiritual education classes for children, gatherings that strengthen the devotional life of the community, and study circles on spiritual themes.

There are 34 Local Spiritual Assemblies supporting the activities of thousands of Victorian Baha’is. Plans for the construction of a new Baha’i Centre of Learning for Victoria are currently underway. It will be located on Canterbury Road, Canterbury.

A popular activity of the Baha’is of Melbourne is the monthly “Soul Food” gathering at the State Library of Victoria. This free community event, which has been running since 2004, is held on the first Sunday of every month from 11 am to 12 noon. It is an opportunity for Melbournians of all beliefs to reflect on inspiring spiritual themes in a tranquil environment. The program features live music by prominent musicians, audio-visual presentations and readings drawn from the world’s great faiths and philosophies.

History

The first Victorian Baha’i was Effie Baker, a photographer and model-maker, who joined the Baha’i Faith in Melbourne in 1922. The following year, 17 Baha’is gathered in South Yarra to form Australia’s first Baha’i institution, the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Melbourne.

The prominent American Baha'i journalist, Martha Root, travelled to Melbourne in 1924, where she presented 25 lectures in as many days. Her visit gave new impetus to the State’s small Baha’i community. The Baha’i Faith spread to Ballarat, Geelong and other regional centres.

Regional Baha'i Council for South-Eastern Australia
Email: secretariat@sea.bahai.org.au

Soul Food
Tel: (03) 9415 6007
Email: soulfoodvic@gmail.com
www.soulfood.com.au