NRI Affairs Correspondent
Melbourne’s first Indian cultural centre in Rowville was inaugurated in the last week of March 2021 by Federal Ministers Alan Tudge and Michael Sukkar.
The multipurpose centre will have facilities for functions, cultural activities, educational programs, seniors’ activities, sports and an Indian museum.
Expected to be open to public by July 2021.
Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust secured a federal government grant of $2.5 million (an equal amount was also allocated for another Indian cultural centre in Perth).
Trustees for the Melbourne centre raised a further $900,000 among themselves.
Formerly owned by the Salvation Army, the centre will initially host up to 100 people.
However, the centre has the capacity to accommodate 250 people in its main hall and about 100 in its mini hall.
Upstairs, the precinct houses ‘Museum India’, relocated from Dandenong.
The museum’s artefacts, donated by Melbourne’s renowned psychiatrist, Late Dr Dinesh Parekh, include priceless paintings, sculptures, books, coins and stamps.
Access to the museum will be free of charge.
