Sikh leaders are making efforts to establish their first place of worship in Geelong in Australia's Victoria state by converting a historic former church building into a gurudwara.
An application has been lodged before the City of Greater Geelong to convert a former South Geelong Uniting Church building into a Sikh gurudwara to host daily prayers and weekly gatherings, Geelong Advertiser newspaper reported.
Applicant Prabhjot Singh Dhaliwal said Sikhs who had been living in Geelong for up to 20 years didn't currently have their own local base and community members have to go to Melbourne for worship and social gathering.
The Moorabool/Fyans St site, which included the church and the UnitingCare headquarters, was sold in 2013 for an estimated 4.5 million dollars as the Uniting Church offloaded several assets.
The property was sold to help ease debt linked to the costly closure of Acacia College in Melbourne, with the church holding its last service in April 2014.
Under the new plan, the gurudwara would be established in the church's old Sunday school building, which is accessed from Balliang St, the paper said.
Hours of operation would be from 7 AM to 9 PM Monday to Saturday, and 9 AM to 9 PM on Sunday. The weekly gatherings would be held on Sundays.
"All the activities will be held indoors," the application reads. "No alcohol and smoking will be permitted within the premises at any time."
A council decision is not expected to be made before February 8.
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