Baha'i Community of
the Australian Capital Territory

The Baha’i community of the ACT is dynamic and diverse, bringing together people from many backgrounds and walks of life.

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The ACT Baha’i Centre is located at 18 Hickey Court, Weston. It is a place where everyone is welcome. The Centre is designed as a community centre and hosts a wide range of activities including children’s classes, devotional meetings, youth camps, and public meetings on a wide range of topics.  It was opened on 10 December 1999 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane.

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The Centre also hosts the Office of External Affairs, which represents the Baha’i community to government and works with other community organisations to promote social cohesion, peace, human rights, the equality of women and men, and inter-religious understanding.

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The Canberra Baha’i community began in 1951 when Ms Pym Trueman became the first Baha’i to settle in Canberra. Shortly afterwards, in 1952, a 15 year old girl, Miss Helen Mason, became the first person to become a Baha’i here.

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On 21 April 1957 the community became firmly established with the election of its first Local Spiritual Assembly.

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In 1982 the Canberra Baha’i community hosted a major international conference of the Faith, attended by 2900 representatives of Baha’i communities from the Asia-Pacific region.

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The community has continued to grow steadily and to increasingly contribute to the life of Canberra. Baha’is are active members in the Canberra Interfaith Forum.