Muslims lived in Toowoomba since 1891 and it took over 123 years to build the first Mosque in the city. To our knowledge Mr Abdul Ahab Kaus (1891 – 1960) was the first Muslim who lived in Toowoomba. He was of Afghan origin. Among the currently living Muslims in Toowoomba some arrived in early 1970’s. There are over 2000 Muslims in the city now.
Initially Muslims primarily came to Toowoomba to work and study at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). USQ provided worshipping facility for Muslims since 1993 after Professor Dr Shahjahan Khan joined USQ. Muslims shared the Chaplaincy at the southern end of ground level of G Block for regular prayers. When the number of Muslims grew, USQ provided an underground room for Muslim prayers and meetings. To meet the increased need of Muslims an exclusive building behind the Steele Rudd College was dedicated to be the USQ Islamic Centre in 2000. Professor Khan was the Founding Coordinator of the Centre until it was decommissioned in 2014 after the first Mosque was set up in the city. Muslim students and staff used an underground room for prayers behind Alison Dixon Lecture Theatre. However, after years of sustained efforts of Professor Khan USQ established a decent Muslim Prayer facility in 2019 within its Multifaith Precinct at the northern end of G Block. There are hundreds of Muslim students and staff at USQ who regularly use Toowoomba Mosque.
Majority of Muslims in the city are highly skilled professionals including Professors/Lecturers, Doctors, Engineers, Researchers, Pharmacists, Entrepreneurs, Business operators, Accountants, Tradespersons etc. Toowoomba city being a refugee friendly zone, there are also some Muslim refugee families.
Muslims are actively engaged with the diverse wider community, especially with USQ, Toowoomba Regional Council, different Churches, Multifaith and Multicultural communities.
The first organised activities of Muslims in Toowoomba started with the establishment of the Islamic Society of Toowoomba Inc (IST) in 1994. IST represents all Muslims in Toowoomba and in the region. It is a Member of the Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ) and Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), the pioneering peak body all Muslims in Australia. We are also closely work with Council of Imams Queensland (CIQ), Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and Grand Mufti of Australia. AIMS and OBJECTIVES of Society
Executive Committee members of the Society are elected by the members every two years in its Annual General Meeting. Professor Dr Shahjahan Khan is the Founding President of Islamic Society of Toowoomba.
Islamic Society worked very closely with the University of Southern Queensland as most if its activities were run from the USQ Islamic Centre until the establishment of Toowoomba Mosque in 2014.
The Garden City Mosque, the first and only mosque in Toowoomba. It was established in January 2014 through the purchase of an old church in a prime location. It is conveniently situated less than 0.5 km from the main hospital, 2 km from the city centre, and 4 km from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).
In 2013, USQ's then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jan Thomas, introduced the property to Professor Shahjahan Khan, the Founding President of the Islamic Society of Toowoomba. The Muslim community later purchased it to establish Toowoomba’s first mosque. Local dignitaries, church leaders, and political representatives warmly welcomed the mosque’s establishment.
The mosque, owned by the Toowoomba Islamic Charitable Trust and operated by the Islamic Society of Toowoomba's Executive Committee, initially spanned 2780 sqm, including a dedicated car park. In 2018, an adjacent property was acquired to meet city parking requirements, expanding the total area to nearly one acre.
Located about 125 km west of Brisbane, the Garden City Mosque is the only mosque in the region. The original church, built in 1910, now serves as one of three buildings on the mosque property. The mosque is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds and serves over 2,000 Muslims in the area.
Arson Attacks. In January 2015, an arson attack damaged the floor of the mosque's community hall. Thanks to the generosity of neighbouring churches, the repair costs were fully covered. While security cameras captured footage of the perpetrator, their identity remains unknown as their face was concealed by a hood. Despite police efforts, the culprit has yet to be found.
On the night of April 15, 2015, a second, more devastating arson attack destroyed the main mosque building beyond repair. Just two days later, the community proceeded with a planned Mosque Open Day and Food Festival at the University of Southern Queensland’s Recreation Centre, with over 5,000 attendees showing their support.
The Muslim community in Toowoomba was deeply shocked by the attacks, but equally determined to rebuild. Their resilience and unwavering commitment led to the launch of the Toowoomba Mosque rebuilding project, a symbol of unity and strength in the face of adversity.
Rebuilding Efforts. In response to the arson attacks, the Muslim community of Toowoomba took on the challenge of constructing a new mosque with all essential facilities under one roof, rather than repairing the damaged old church building.
After consulting with town planners, conducting surveys, and appointing an architect, the designs for an expanded mosque—capable of accommodating 500 worshippers—were created. The Development Application was successfully approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) after the community appealed to lift some restrictive conditions on user limits and operating hours.
The rebuilding process began in 2018, reaching the lock-up stage in 2019. Interior work continued with the second stage in July 2020, leading to the final stage of construction, which included 56 parking spaces, a retaining wall, two driveways, fencing, and landscaping.
Today, the project is complete, and the new mosque is fully operational. The facility now includes a mezzanine level dedicated to women worshippers, accommodating around 100 sisters. This accomplishment reflects the determination and resilience of the Toowoomba Muslim community in rebuilding a fully functional and inclusive place of worship.
Fundraising Appeals The mosque's establishment and rebuilding have been supported by generous donations from Brisbane, Sydney, the Gold Coast, and beyond. Numerous fundraising events and dinners have been held across Queensland and other states to support both the initial purchase of the property and the ongoing rebuilding efforts.
The Garden City Mosque prioritizes environmental sustainability. With solar panels already producing more energy than consumed, the mosque offsets its electricity costs. Future plans include rainwater collection systems and the creation of a low-maintenance garden, making the mosque a model of eco-consciousness.
As the only mosque in the region, the Garden City Mosque welcomes people from all walks of life. Regular visitors include school groups, church organizations, and the wider community, who join in on events like Mosque Open Day and Ramadan Iftar dinners.
The mosque is designed to be a family-friendly space, encouraging the active participation of children and families in its activities. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment for younger generations to learn, grow, and connect with the community.