SGNSS History
The Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Sabha was founded in 1981 to fulfill the spiritual and community needs of Melbourne’s Indian Sikh Community.
Before its formal establishment, in 1977 families would meet in private homes as a space for prayer and connection. Later the venues changed to Rathdowne Primary School and Box Hill Primary School and in in 1984, through the dedication and efforts of these pioneering families, the first Gurdwara in Melbourne was established with the purchase of the Uniting Church in Ferntree Gully. As the community continued to grow, the need for a larger, more permanent space became clear. In late 1993, SGNSS moved to its current home at 127 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn—a postal warehouse that was thoughtfully refurbished and transformed into a vibrant and welcoming Gurdwara.
Today, the Blackburn Gurdwara Sahib stands as a thriving spiritual and cultural hub, serving the needs of an ever increasing sangat. The day-to-day operations are overseen by an elected committee and supported by a large team of dedicated volunteers and resident team of religious workers.
The sangat is blessed with the opportunity to listen to live kirtan, devotional hymns, performed by experienced Raagi’s (musicians) every day. There are daily morning and evening diwaans. Larger weekly diwaans are held Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings. The Gurdwara also hosts special programs to celebrate significant events such as Vaisakhi and Gurpurabs, drawing the community together in spirit, and sangat.
