Where It's Located
The Melbourne Australia Temple is located at Rear 76 Cathies Lane, Wantirna South, Victoria 3152, Australia, approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Melbourne's city center. The temple sits on a beautifully landscaped 5.98-acre property adjacent to a meetinghouse in the peaceful suburb of Wantirna South. The grounds feature mature trees, gardens, and a welcoming semicircular gathering plaza. There is no visitors' center, arrival center, patron housing, or distribution center on the property.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Melbourne Airport (MEL), located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the temple. Travelers from the United States can reach Melbourne on nonstop or one-stop flights from cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and other major international hubs. From the airport, the temple is typically a 35- to 45-minute drive, depending on traffic.
A Bit of History
The Melbourne Australia Temple was announced by the First Presidency on October 30, 1998. It became the third temple built in Australia, following the Sydney Australia Temple and the Adelaide Australia Temple, and the 90th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before the temple was built, many members from Melbourne endured a 12-hour bus trip each way to attend the Sydney Australia Temple, while earlier generations often traveled all the way to the New Zealand Temple.
Groundbreaking services were held on March 20, 1999, with Elder P. Bruce Mitchell presiding. More than 28,000 visitors toured the temple during its public open house in June 2000. President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on June 16, 2000, just one day after dedicating the Adelaide Australia Temple during an eleven-day trip through the Asia-Pacific region.
The temple fulfilled a long-held hope for members throughout Victoria, Tasmania, and southern Australia by bringing temple ordinances much closer to home and eliminating the "tyranny of distance" that had required many members to make lengthy journeys for temple worship.
Design and Architecture
The Melbourne Australia Temple contains approximately 10,700 square feet of floor space. Its exterior is clad in snow-white granite and features a single attached spire topped with an angel Moroni statue. The elegant design reflects the classic style of many temples announced during the late 1990s while blending beautifully into the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Inside, the temple includes two progressive instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. Though modest in size, the temple provides a peaceful and reverent atmosphere for worship. The beautifully landscaped grounds, mature trees, and carefully maintained gardens make it one of Australia's most inviting temple properties.
Final Thoughts
The Melbourne Australia Temple represents an important milestone in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia. As the first temple in Victoria, it dramatically reduced travel for thousands of faithful members and strengthened the growing Church throughout southeastern Australia. More than two decades after its dedication, it continues to bless members from Melbourne, Tasmania, and surrounding regions while standing as a beautiful symbol of faith and devotion.
Scott & Riah
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