Aussie oldest mosque gets facelift, the first time a city council funds the restoration of a mosque.

Adelaide, 2008 June 18, IQNA/IOL

The Adelaide mosque, Australia's oldest mosque, is getting a major facelift with a government grant that will fund repairs to two of its ancient minarets.

"This money allocated will restore the fourth minaret of the mosque to its former glory," Michael Harbison, Lord Mayor of the southern city of Adelaide, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday, June 17.

The Adelaide Mosque is to undergo a major refurbishment after being awarded funding under the City Council’s Heritage Incentive Scheme.

It has approved a A$65,000 grant for the conservation project, which will include the rebuilding of the partially demolished north-west minaret and the entire south-west minaret.

The mosque was built in 1888, becoming the first ever in Australia. Its four towering minarets were added later in 1903.

Muslims from all regions of Australia come to pray at the historic mosque.

During the holy fasting month of Ramadhan, the mosque becomes the focal point of Muslims gatherings.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country is home to more than 340.000 Muslims, making up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.

Muslims have been in Australia for more than 200 years and Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity.

Mayor Harbison noted that it is the first time a city council funds the restoration of a mosque.

"The Council is pleased to be able to support this important conservation project through our Heritage Incentive Scheme," he added in a statement announcing the mosque's makeover plan.

The mayor recognized the mosque as one of the city's most significant buildings.

"[It’s not only] Adelaide's mosque but the oldest mosque in Australia."

Harbison says that the mosque chronicles the history of Muslims in Australia.

"The mosque was built in the late 1880s, after Islam was introduced to Australia around 20 years earlier through the migration of cameleers from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran."

Officials hope that after renovating the mosque, it will not only be an important landmark for the Muslim community, but for Australia as a whole.

"[It will] give us what really is a beautiful building, very important to the Islamic community in Adelaide, but [also] a great tourist attraction."