Shepparton's Albanian mosque
History
The Albanian Mosque, also known as the Shepparton Mosque, is a rural Sunni mosque located in Shepparton, Australia's capital city. Muslim Albanians had no Muslim presence they could access in the area, and a need for a large building to congregate and hold community events arose. Unlike Christian Albanians, Muslim Albanians had no Muslim infrastructure to use in the region, and Muslim Albanians had no religious infrastructure to use in the region, and Muslim Albanians had no Muslim infrastructure to access, so the desire for a large building that could be used to gather and host community events. The local Albanian community founded the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society in 1953. The Shepparton mosque was one of the first members of the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies. Shepparton Turkish Australians used the mosque until 1988, when they constructed their own mosque in another suburb of the city. These SAMS activities attract Albanians from other areas in Victoria to Shepparton, and are vital in uniting the dispersed Albanian community. Some discord erupted between new arriving Albanian migrants from former atheist communist Albania and the older Albanian community in the 1990s. Shepparton's Albanian community is the largest Albanian group in regional Australia, according to the Albanian community. The qu'oran and trowel represent the establishment of Albanian Muslim life in Victoria. Although the mosque was the first established in Victoria, Albanian migrants first arrived in the district in the 1920s. Following World War II, the community in Shepparton was strengthened by a slew of post-war refugees, which coincided with the rise of communism in Albania. Mr Qemal said the mosque served a significant religious function but was also a location for community activities. Mr Qemal said that although the mosque is historically linked to the Albanian community, we welcome worshippers from all nationalities and cultural backgrounds, as well as its spirit of unity and harmony, reflect the wider community and its successful history of integration.
Urban and Architectural
The mosque is a large structure and reflects a building style that incorporates parts of traditional architecture with popular architectural elements in 1960s Shepparton. The brickwork is of a white cream colour. Atop on all sides is a crenellated parapet that contains some decorative brown infill brickwork and the roof has 4 small domes. There are vertical pointed lancet windows on one side and rectangular windows on the other, all with white frames. The entrance is a centralised white rendered panel and its upper section has a pointed arch with coloured glass. Above that is written in gilded letters "Moslem Mosque". The second half of the centralised panel consists of two white framed doors with glazed rectangular panes, and in front the canopy has two squared brick columns. There are landscaped gardens on the premises.
Description
The Albanian Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia shqiptare), also known as the Shepparton Mosque, is a rural Sunni mosque located in a residential area of Shepparton, a regional city in Victoria, Australia. Associated with the Albanian Australian community, the mosque is owned by and the centre of the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society (SAMS). Built in the late 1950s, the mosque is the first and oldest in Victoria.
Details
Location
8 Acacia Street, Shepparton Victoria 3630
Worshippers
300
Owners
Albanian Muslim Society of Shepparton
Year of Build
1960
Area
380 m²
Drawings
Map
History
The Albanian Mosque, also known as the Shepparton Mosque, is a rural Sunni mosque located in Shepparton, Australia's capital city. Muslim Albanians had no Muslim presence they could access in the area, and a need for a large building to congregate and hold community events arose. Unlike Christian Albanians, Muslim Albanians had no Muslim infrastructure to use in the region, and Muslim Albanians had no religious infrastructure to use in the region, and Muslim Albanians had no Muslim infrastructure to access, so the desire for a large building that could be used to gather and host community events. The local Albanian community founded the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society in 1953. The Shepparton mosque was one of the first members of the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies. Shepparton Turkish Australians used the mosque until 1988, when they constructed their own mosque in another suburb of the city. These SAMS activities attract Albanians from other areas in Victoria to Shepparton, and are vital in uniting the dispersed Albanian community. Some discord erupted between new arriving Albanian migrants from former atheist communist Albania and the older Albanian community in the 1990s. Shepparton's Albanian community is the largest Albanian group in regional Australia, according to the Albanian community. The qu'oran and trowel represent the establishment of Albanian Muslim life in Victoria. Although the mosque was the first established in Victoria, Albanian migrants first arrived in the district in the 1920s. Following World War II, the community in Shepparton was strengthened by a slew of post-war refugees, which coincided with the rise of communism in Albania. Mr Qemal said the mosque served a significant religious function but was also a location for community activities. Mr Qemal said that although the mosque is historically linked to the Albanian community, we welcome worshippers from all nationalities and cultural backgrounds, as well as its spirit of unity and harmony, reflect the wider community and its successful history of integration.
Urban and Architectural
The mosque is a large structure and reflects a building style that incorporates parts of traditional architecture with popular architectural elements in 1960s Shepparton. The brickwork is of a white cream colour. Atop on all sides is a crenellated parapet that contains some decorative brown infill brickwork and the roof has 4 small domes. There are vertical pointed lancet windows on one side and rectangular windows on the other, all with white frames. The entrance is a centralised white rendered panel and its upper section has a pointed arch with coloured glass. Above that is written in gilded letters "Moslem Mosque". The second half of the centralised panel consists of two white framed doors with glazed rectangular panes, and in front the canopy has two squared brick columns. There are landscaped gardens on the premises.
Description
The Albanian Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia shqiptare), also known as the Shepparton Mosque, is a rural Sunni mosque located in a residential area of Shepparton, a regional city in Victoria, Australia. Associated with the Albanian Australian community, the mosque is owned by and the centre of the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society (SAMS). Built in the late 1950s, the mosque is the first and oldest in Victoria.