A Muslim group is hoping to buy a Victorian-era church built in 1872.
The stone building near Redfern train station, in central Sydney, is up for auction on Wednesday next week, with bids of at least $2 million expected.
The Uniting Church is selling the property as a Tongan congregation moves to Marrickville, a few suburbs away where there is more space and parking.
The Islamic Society at the University of New South Wales is appealing for donations to help them put in a bid for the 145-year-old church.
An Islamic group wants to buy this church in Sydney built near the end of the Victorian era
Bilal Dannoun is asking the Muslim community to pitch in to help buy an historic church
A Muslim group based at the University of NSW is hoping to convert this space into a mosque
Marriage celebrant Bilal Dannoun is asking fellow Muslims for donations to buy a church built when Queen Victoria still reigned.
‘ISOC UNSW is actively looking for a place of worship to help the Muslims in the eastern suburbs to find a permanent place,’ he said on Facebook.
‘They currently have around $587,000.00 so they are able to bid at the auction and pay the 10 per cent deposit.’
Selling agent Peter Vines, from CBRE South Sydney, says the heritage-listed building at 118 Regent Street, Redfern, is expected to sell for between $2 million and $2.5 million.
This beautiful church built in 1872 could be turned into a mosque if local Muslims buy it soon
Uniting Church spokeswoman Lisa Sampson isn’t concerned about a Muslim group eyeing the 360 square metre building
Marriage celebrant Bilal Dannoun wants Muslims to pool their funds to buy a 145-year-old church
‘The location and the heritage nature of the building make it exceptionally unique,’ he said.
Uniting Church spokeswoman Lisa Sampson isn’t concerned about a Muslim group eyeing the 360 square metre building.
‘It’s an opportunity to preserve what was a beautiful space,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I don’t think there’s a preference on who the next people who take it over.’
Mr Vines said there was likely to be strong competition at the auction, scheduled for September 6.
‘There are different religious denominations looking at it as well as owner-occupiers for commercial premises,’ he said.
‘The creative industry are crying out for everything that was retro and heritage because it’s got original features.’
Census 2016 shows that almost half of Australia’s Muslim population lives in Sydney.
The number of Muslims living in greater Sydney rose by 5.3 per cent in 2016 to 253,436 – which is 40 per cent of the total population of 604,000 living in Australia in 2016.
Islam is also Sydney’s fastest growing religion.