Melbourne’s Shree Swaminarayan Temple Defaced with Racist Graffiti, Police Investigate
A Melbourne Hindu temple and nearby Asian businesses were defaced with racist slurs (“Go Home Brown C**t”) on July 21. Victoria Police and community leaders strongly condemn the act and are investigating linked hate crimes in Boronia
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On July 21, the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia, a suburb east of Melbourne, was defaced with racist graffiti, reading “Go Home Brown C**t,” sprayed across its walls. The same hateful slurs also appeared on two nearby Asian-run restaurants and a healing centre along Mountain Highway.
Victoria Police confirmed the incidents—reported in Boronia and neighboring Bayswater—are linked and under active investigation. A spokesperson said, “There is absolutely no place in our society for hate-based and racist behaviour”.
Makrand Bhagwat, President of the Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter, described the attack as “heartbreaking,” calling it an attack on community identity, worship, and religious freedom.
Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, privately condemned the act as “hateful, racist and deeply disturbing,” and emphasized that such behaviour is unacceptable in Victoria. She assured that the Minister for Multicultural Affairs will visit the temple to offer governmental support.
Local interfaith and multicultural networks have rallied around the Hindu community, voicing solidarity and unity in condemning the vandalism.
| Incident | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | July 21, 2025 |
| Location | Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Boronia, Melbourne |
| Graffiti Message | “Go Home Brown C**t” |
| Additional Sites Affected | Two Asian restaurants; healing centre |
| Authorities | Victoria Police investigating; no leads released |
| Community Response | Condemnation from Premier, Hindu Council, interfaith groups |
| Context | Follows prior racist incidents targeting Indians and Asians |
This disturbing attack is part of a broader uptick in racially motivated crimes against Indian and Asian communities in Australia, including a separate assault in Adelaide on a 23-year-old Indian student two days earlier.
