The listing recognised its architectural values,designed by Jones Brewster Regan Architects with AW Edwards,and the important cultural and spiritual role the temple and shrine played for the state’s booming Buddhist population,Sharpe said. About 2.6 per cent of Australians say they are Buddhists,up from 200,000 in 1996 to 616,000 in 2021,according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple,its more formal name,is the first purely Buddhist temple to be listed in NSW,Sharpe said. It is also the youngest building on the list,and the second-youngest item after the Olympic cauldron.
It is one of the largest female-run Buddhist organisations in the world,and the construction of its temple and pagoda 30 years ago was managed by the chief abbess in Australia and New Zealand,the Venerable Manko.
NSW heritage listings
- Toorale Homestead and Woolshed Precinct outside Bourke
- Victoria and Berghofer Pass in the Blue Mountains
- Nan Tien Temple,south of Wollongong
- Nowland’s Lochinvar Coach House and Setting in the Hunter’
- Sydney Croquet Clubhouse at Rose Bay
- Wellington Town Common
- MLC Building in North Sydney
- Badangi,a site on the northern bank of Sydney Harbour
- All Saints Anglican Church in Bodalla
- Bouddi Farm,a Russell Drysdale commissioned mid-century modern home
- Manilla Railway Viaduct and Underbridge
Italicised items were announced earlier. Anyone can make a nomination for an item to be listed on the NSW
In addition to the listing of the MLC Building and Bouddi Farm,announced earlier by Sharpe,other newly listed items include Toorale Homestead and Woolshed outside Bourke,the Victoria and Berghofer Pass in the Blue Mountains,Wellington Town Common and Nowland’s Lochinvar Coach housing and surroundings in the Hunter.
“Heritage listings tell the stories of our past,making sure events and places are not lost over time and continue to be shared by future generations,” Sharpe said.
Operating since 1922,the Sydney Croquet Club is an unusual split log cabin built more than a century ago. A changing room is adorned with old pennants from competitions,and boards include long lists of women,Miss and Mrs,who have won over the decades.
Described as “a nasty game played by nice people”,it was also one that was thought to be acceptable for women to play in Australia in the early days of the colony.
The club’s secretary,Emma Diamond,said croquet was the only sport centuries ago where women were allowed to attend without a male chaperone. “Back in England,it was also the only social event a young unmarried woman could go to without being chaperoned. So there was always this little bit of scandal.”
Unlike other sports,such as bowling,that require a fair bit of bending,it can be played into old age,say members.
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