Background

In Thailand in the early 1980s His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, Wat Samphraya inquired of His Holiness Phra Dhammakunaporn (Paiboon) Pali IX about his frequent overseas travels and whether he planned to promote the Thai Buddhist teachings during his travels abroad or if he had considered building a temple overseas as means of promoting Thai Buddhism to those countries.

His Holiness Phra Dhammakunaporn (Paiboon), considered the great vision of His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, and felt that there would be undeniable benefits for the teaching and promoting of Buddhism to Buddhists abroad as well as reaching out to people who wished to know more about Buddhism. He was reminded of the history of the third reformation, and thought, What if the great King Asoka had not decided to approve and send a number of disciples to travel and to teach the way of Buddhism. If this was the case, then it is possible that today we would not have gained the knowledge of wisdom or enlightenment of Dhamma.

From the wise reasoning of His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn as mentioned earlier, His Holiness Phra Dhammakunaporn recognized that this initiative would be a great benefit for the promotion and teaching of Buddhism, and saw it as a duty of Thai monks to carry out this important work. He promptly agreed to this strategy.

His Holiness had been informed that Thai monks had traveled and settled around the world for promoting and teaching Buddhism, especially in Europe and the United States of America. Australia however, had only a few Thai monks who had been settled. Australia was seen as a country with boundless land and a thriving, prosperous Thai community. There were also other Asian Buddhists who had settled here in Australia. He realized that to accomplish his objective he needed strong support from the local Thai community who believed in, and had faith in Buddha to assist in the establishment of this mission. He made arrangements to convey the Buddhist teachings to Australia straight away.

From the deliberation of the following Holiness committee of the Mahanikaya sect.

1. His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, (Acting the Sangha Supreme Council),

the abbot of Wat Sam Phraya, Bangkok as the president of temple assemble.

2. Phra Thammateeraratchamuni, (Ecclesiastical Regional Governor 7)

the abbot of Wat Paknam Pasrichareon, Bangkok as the vice president of temple assemble.

3. Phra Thepmunee, (Deputy Ecclesiastical Regional Governor 1)

the abbots of Wat Don Yannawa, Bangkok as the committee of temple assemble.

4. Phra DhepPanyasutee, (Ecclesiastical Provincial Governor Kanchanaburi)

the abbot of Wat Chaichumpol Chanasongkram, Kanchanaburi, as the committee of temple assemble implementation.

5. Phra Rajpariyathsuthee (Deputy Ecclesiastical Provincial Governor Suphanburi),

Wat Donjedee Supanburi, as the temple assemble

In 1984, His Holiness Phra Dhammakunaporn organized an excursion comprising of 12 senior monks from Thailand to Australia for the prospect of promoting and teaching Buddhism in Australia.

After receiving positive and encouraging feedback from this excursion, it was decided to establish the preliminary Thai temple in Melbourne, Victoria. This was achieved with the co-operation and assistance from Narongsak Chanmeesri, The president of the Thai Association of Victoria, Peeti Suwannasara, and the other Thai people. His holiness Phra Dhammakunaporn proceeded to seek permission from The Supreme Council of Administration to endorse the appointment of Dr.Phra Maha Chamrus Wiriyanantho from Wat Ratchanadda, Bangkok to stay in the initial temple venue at 1 Head Street Balwyn Vic 3103.

We moved to another building by renting premises, the entrance of which was at the rear of 281 Doncaster Rd. North Balwyn, 3104. On the 20 November 1986, the committee agreed to purchase the present Temple venue at 489 Elgar Road Box Hill, Melbourne Victoria, at the price of AU $ 95,000 and have resided in the current venue since 12 February 1987. Most of the initial funds for the current temple were raised from Thailand to establish monks and promote Thai Buddhism in Australia.

On 19 May 1986, the temple was registered as a Non-profit organization as The Melbourne Thai Buddhist Temple Inc. (Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne). On 17 May 2013 was approved as a Place of Worship