Islamic Society of Toowoomba
The first organised activities of Muslims in Toowoomba started with the establishment of the Islamic Society of Toowoomba Inc (ISOT) in 1994. ISOT represents all Muslims in Toowoomba and in the region. It is a Member of the Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ) and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), the pioneering peak body of all Muslims in Australia. We also closely work with the Council of Imams Queensland (CIQ), the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and the Grand Mufti of Australia. The objectives of the society are:
- To help practice, uphold and promote Islam, the religion of the Society.
- To strive for the unity and cooperation of all Muslims and for better understanding and goodwill among Muslims and other communities.
- To strive to establish and maintain a Mosque and other facilities in Toowoomba for all Muslims.
- To organise and celebrate Islamic prayers, festivals, rituals and social functions.
- To launch charity fundraising for the welfare of the community and help poor/distressed people at home and abroad.
- To represent and enhance the interests of the Muslim community in Toowoomba.
- To establish and maintain contact with other organisations having similar objectives as those of this Society.
- To prepare, print, publish and distribute literature of a religious/social nature.
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 the Islamic Society of Toowoomba.
Islamic Society worked very closely with the University of Southern Queensland as most of its activities were run from the UniSQ Islamic Centre until the establishment of the Toowoomba Mosque in 2014.
Toowoomba’s First Mosque: From Founding to Rebuilding
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.