Australia's first Islamic museum opens in Melbourne

Australia's first Islamic museum is today (Monday 3rd March) opening its doors in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury.

The $10 million Islamic Museum of Australia aims to provide educational and cross-cultural experiences and showcase the artistic and cultural heritage of Muslims in Australia and in Muslim societies abroad. It also wants to foster community harmony and facilitate an understanding of the values and contributions of Muslims to Australian society.

The Museum provides an interactive experience for students across five galleries: Islamic faith, Australian Muslim history, Islamic contributions to civilisation, Islamic architecture and art as well as a series of visiting exhibitions.

The faith exhibit features a call to prayer recited by music legend Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. Islam took part in a fundraising event on the site of the Museum in 2012.

Former corporate banker Moustafa Fahour came up with the concept for the Museum in 2010 and won funding support from all levels of government, community and industry to bring the project to fruition.

Commenting on his wanting to create the Museum, Fahoor explained "one of the most effective ways to promote cultural diversity and social cohesion is via the universal language of the arts and education.

"Victoria has been home to a Chinese, Jewish and Greek museum for many years so the time is right to reflect on Australia's rich cultural diversity with the addition of an Islamic Museum."

However, since 2012 the project has been managed from Dubai, after Fahour accepted a job offer from the construction company Leighton Holdings.

The move proved fortuitous, with the couple tapping into the UAE's thriving creative industry to aid the museum's completion.

They signed up Etihad Airways and Leighton Holdings as principle partners, and Dubai design company North 55 was enlisted to design the museum branding.

The Jumeirah Beach Residence shop Gallery One was chosen to supply the in-house gift store.

The Museum's audio-visual guides for each of its five permanent galleries, mostly displaying the contributions of Muslims in Australia, was recorded in Dubai Studio City's JR Studio.

Among many potential visitors, schools and community groups have been arranging tours in advance of today's opening

Musuem Education Director Sherene Hassan said more than 30 schools from throughout Victoria, as well as Tasmania and South Australia, had contacted the museum to organise a tour.

Hassan stated "students will be able to try on clothes pilgrims to Mecca would wear.

"They can learn about the Muslim contribution to maths, astronomy, arts and music and play chess on an oversized chess board and participate in workshops exploring mosaics and calligraphy."

For details about the Islamic Museum of Australia project, visit http://islamicmuseum.org.au 

17th August 2012 - ETIHAD RETAINS NAMING RIGHTS AT MELBOURNE’S DOCKLANDS STADIUM ​

12th May 2012 - $1.5 MILLION BACKING FOR ISLAMIC MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

18th February 2012 - ABU DHABI ESTABLISHES TOURISM AND CULTURE AUTHORITY 

31st March 2010 - NEW ONLINE GUIDE LAUNCHED FOR ‘HALAL’ TRAVELLERS

14th September 2009 - AUSSIE BURQINI A GLOBAL SUCCESS

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.