The Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne’s eastern suburb of Boronia has been vandalised with hateful and racist graffiti, sparking outrage among Australia’s Hindu community and drawing condemnation from local leaders.
According to a report by The Australia Today, red-painted racial slurs reading “Go Home Brown C**t” were found on the walls of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple on Wadhurst Drive. The same offensive message was also discovered at two nearby Asian-owned restaurants, suggesting coordinated hate attacks.
Makrand Bhagwat, President of the Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter, expressed deep anguish over the incident. “Our temple is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, devotion and unity,” he said, calling the vandalism an attack on the community’s identity and religious freedom.
Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan, though yet to make a public statement, issued a private message to the temple leadership. In her message, she condemned the act as “hateful, racist and deeply disturbing.” She wrote, “It was a deliberate act of hate, designed to intimidate, isolate and spread fear… It was an attack on your right to feel safe and to belong.”
Premier Allan also confirmed that Victoria Police are actively investigating the crime and announced that the Minister for Multicultural Affairs would visit the temple to offer government support.
Victoria Police confirmed that four incidents — including those at the temple and two restaurants — occurred in Boronia and Bayswater on July 21. A police spokesperson stated, “There is absolutely no place at all in our society for hate-based and racist behaviour.”
Local leaders and interfaith groups, including the City of Greater Knox’s Multifaith Network, have rallied in support of the Hindu community. “We want to show that love and solidarity triumph over hate,” said community member Vikrant Thakur.
The vandalism comes amid rising concerns over racial violence, following a brutal assault in Adelaide where a 23-year-old Indian national, Charanpreet Singh, was allegedly attacked and left unconscious by a group of men who hurled racial slurs over a parking dispute.
Singh was reportedly told to “f— off, Indian” before being punched multiple times. He was found unconscious near Kintore Avenue in central Adelaide and is currently recovering.
Both incidents have intensified calls for stronger actions against hate crimes and greater protection for Australia’s multicultural communities.
