Mareeba Mosque facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mareeba Mosque Mareeba and District Memorial Mosque
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Rite	Sunni Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque
Ownership	Albanian Australian Moslem Society (Mareeba Islamic Society)
Leadership	Benjamin Murat (Imam)
Status	Active
Location
Location	108 Walsh Street, Mareeba 4880
State	Queensland
Country	Australia
Location in Queensland
Architecture
Architectural type	Mosque
Groundbreaking	1969
Completed	1970
Minaret(s)	1
Inscriptions	1

The Mareeba Mosque, also called the Mareeba and District Memorial Mosque, is a special building for Muslims. It is located in Mareeba, a town in Queensland, Australia. This mosque has a tall tower called a minaret. Next to it is a hall used for community events. This hall also has a library and a room for visitors. The mosque was built in the late 1960s. It is owned by the Albanian Australian Moslem Society, which is also known as the Mareeba Islamic Society. It is an important place for the Albanian Australian community.

History of the Mareeba Mosque

Most of the Muslim people in Mareeba are Albanian Australians. Many came from Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro. They started arriving before and after the Second World War. Some settled in North Queensland where sugar cane was grown, like in Cairns.

The Albanian community wanted to keep their traditions alive. This was especially important because in Albania, the government at the time did not allow religion. So, they wanted to build Islamic places of worship, like the ones they had left behind.

Building the First Mosque

In 1953, new Albanian people in Mareeba formed a group. It was called the Albanian Australian Moslem Society. An Albanian Imam (a Muslim religious leader) from Cairo helped them. They bought a house and turned it into a mosque. At that time, about 70 Muslim families lived in Mareeba. These families came from many different backgrounds.

In 1968, the Islamic Society bought land for $4,000. It was on the corner of Walsh and Lloyd Street. Building the new mosque started in 1969. The Mareeba Muslim community paid for everything. They raised money for the land, planning, and building the mosque.

Design and Dedication

A local architect named Tom Roy designed the mosque. Patty Cannon, a builder from Mareeba, constructed it. The Islamic Society did not have enough money for a minaret or an Islamic arch. So, Patty Cannon added them himself. The minaret was just for decoration, not for calling prayers. The new mosque was a modern brick building. It replaced the old house that was used as a mosque.

The new mosque opened on Anzac Day in 1970. The mayor of Mareeba opened it. The mosque was dedicated to Australian soldiers who died in war. This was a way for the Albanian community to show their respect. They also wanted to build good relationships with other local people.

An inscription was added to the mosque's front brick wall. It says: "Mareeba and District Memorial Mosque, Erected by the Albanian Australian Moslem Society: This house of God is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the defence of Australia and in appreciation of all who served. 'Lest We Forget' 25th April, 1970". This inscription is a war memorial. It is part of the Mareeba Shire War Memorial Heritage Asset List.

Soon after the mosque opened, the Mareeba Imam was allowed to register marriages. The wider community also gave the Muslim community a special area in the Mareeba cemetery. This area is for burials, and the graves face west, as is the Muslim tradition.

Growth and Community Life

The mosque has become a very important place for the local Muslim community. By 1986, about 300 people were members of the Mareeba Islamic Society. In 1988, a hall was added behind the mosque. This hall is used for celebrations and Muslim events. It also has a visitors' room and a library.

Today, some members of the Mareeba Albanian community are third, fifth, or even sixth-generation locals. The mosque helps them keep their family traditions and religious identity strong.

In 2010, the mosque celebrated its 40th anniversary. In September 2014, some unfriendly words were sprayed on the mosque. The Mareeba mosque also takes part in National Mosque Open Day. This is an event where people can visit mosques across Australia. It helps people learn about Islam and Muslims.

The Mareeba Islamic Community

Many members of the Mareeba Islamic Society are farmers. Today, the mosque's congregation is very diverse. It includes local Albanians and newer Muslim people. These new arrivals come from places like Kosovo, Bosnia, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

The Albanian Imam gives weekly lessons and lectures. Other Islamic lessons are held on the weekends. Benjamin Murat has been the Imam since the early 2000s.

Images for kids

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  Plaque commemorating mosque founding and dedication to fallen Australian soldiers