The Adelaide City Mosque in Adelaide, Australia
The Adelaide City Mosque, also known as Adelaide Central Mosque, or formerly as the Afghan Chapel, is South Australia’s oldest mosque and a unique testament to the enduring legacy of Muslims in Australia. Its story is woven from threads of migration, spirituality, resilience, and architectural ingenuity. For anyone passionate about masjids, Islamic heritage, and places for prayer in Australia, the tale of the Adelaide Mosque encapsulates immense importance for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
History
The roots of the Adelaide City Mosque reach deep into the Australian colonial era. The mosque was constructed between 1888 and 1889, prompted by the need for a permanent place of worship for Muslim cameleers and traders, predominantly Afghans, who arrived in northern South Australia to aid in transportation via camel caravans. These cameleers played a crucial role in expanding Australia’s infrastructure, especially the Overland Telegraph Line, bringing with them the traditions and faith they dearly cherished.
Hadji Mullah Merban, an Afghan camel leader from Kandahar, spearheaded efforts to build the mosque after his retirement in Adelaide. He became the mosque’s first caretaker, offering spiritual and practical support to aged or unemployed cameleers. His vision gained the support of Abdul Wade, a merchant and cameleer from Quetta (now Pakistan), who oversaw the project’s funding through donations from local Muslim communities and those in Melbourne.
Local council approval in 1887 led to the construction of a modest brick and stone building costing £450. The mosque’s site on Little Gilbert Street became a refuge, with adjacent cottages providing shelter for needy cameleers and the mosque itself designated as “God’s house”.
Within its early years, the mosque was more than a prayer space; it was a vibrant community center. Worshippers from as far as Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie journeyed there for major occasions such as Ramadan. By 1890, Friday prayers drew 20-40 attendees, swelling to nearly 100 during festive times, reflecting the growing religious and social cohesion among Muslims in South Australia.
Importance to Australian Muslims
The Adelaide Mosque is important to Muslims and the wider Australian public for several reasons. As the oldest permanent mosque in Australia, it stands as an enduring symbol of Islamic presence dating back well over a century. It records the cultural and spiritual contributions of “Afghan” cameleers, marking a profound chapter in the migration story of Australia. These pioneers not only transported goods but also brought Islamic faith, traditions, and a communal spirit that shaped local history.
During the early 20th century, the mosque experienced a decline as the original congregation aged and many returned home. But after World War II, Muslim migrants from Bosnia, Indonesia, and several other countries arrived, revitalizing the congregation and restoring the mosque’s role as a key religious center. It now serves a diverse community, including Lebanese, Pakistani, Indonesian, Malaysian, Bosnian worshippers, as a place for daily prayers, festivals, and cultural exchange.
Not only is it a spiritual sanctuary, but a living heritage site proudly recognized by the South Australian Heritage Register for its cultural and architectural value. Its presence continuously asserts the place of Islam in Australian society and fosters cross-cultural understanding.
Architecture: Heritage with Hybrid Features
The Adelaide Mosque’s architecture is a fascinating blend of Islamic and local Australian motifs. Originally, it was a simple rectangle of bluestone and brick, measuring about 12 by 7.5 meters, with a hipped roof typical of 19th-century Adelaide structures. The interior was adorned with arched niches to hold copies of the Qur’an, whitewashed walls, concrete floors covered with mats, and a serene absence of ornamentation, reflecting the utilitarian beauty found in South Asian and Afghan places of worship.
A tank and fountain in the east garden provided for ablution, echoing traditional practices from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The porch featured tessellated tiles and arched columns sheltered behind wrought iron tracery. Glassed windows held framed views of holy sites, while lighting was supplied by a central kerosene lamp.
In 1903, the mosque’s most distinctive features were added: four minarets crafted from red brick, each about 40 feet high, with a gradually narrowing cylindrical form. The two front minarets were whitewashed and the rear ones left in brick, culminating in golden globes symbolizing the moon and evocative of Islamic visual traditions. These minarets, rare among Australian mosques, gave the mosque its signature look and signaled both religious aspiration and architectural innovation.
The mosque’s heritage value is also seen in its resilience and continual adaptation. Later renovations included timber laminate lining to preserve the cracked original whitewash, higher brick walls, and careful maintenance following structural decay. Over time, mature gardens and vined cottages completed the picturesque setting, framing the mosque as a peaceful enclave in Adelaide’s cityscape.
Enduring Legacy
Today, the Adelaide City Mosque remains a focal point of Islamic worship and community engagement in Adelaide. Its services span daily prayers, major religious festivals like Eid, community celebrations, and educational outreach. It stands as a thriving symbol for Australian Muslims, welcoming hundreds for Friday prayers and more for key annual occasions.
Listed as a State Heritage Place and referenced as one of the few authentic relics of the Afghan cameleers, it’s cherished not only for spiritual meaning but also as a monument to multiculturalism. Adjacent areas such as the “Afghan section” in the West Terrace Cemetery commemorate those early pioneers who forged a path, both literally and figuratively, to make Australia their home.
As Australia’s oldest continually active mosque in its original state, Adelaide City Mosque speaks volumes of faith, unity, and diversity. Its architecture embodies a hybrid identity, melding Islamic values with South Australian character. Its walls echo with history, resilience, and the prayers of generations, making it much more than just a place for Muslims to pray. It is a landmark of Australian history, an open invitation for all to learn, reflect, and appreciate the enduring legacy of Islam in Australia.
