Founding
The idea to establish a place dedicated to Meher Baba in Queensland grew out of a letter from Meher Baba’s sister and disciple, Mani Irani. On the 11th of January 1958, she wrote to Bill Le Page and the Australian group of followers, indicating that Meher Baba wished to give his Sahavas, company, in Australia at one place only, and that Baba would "like Queensland if the climate is good during June, and if the place is practical." Over the years Bill Le Page and Francis Brabazon had discussed setting up a permanent centre north of Sydney and had explored New South Wales by car several times, the longest trip was 350 miles north, during which they slept under the stars by night. After Meher Baba's second automobile accident and Mani's letter the decision was made to go north of Brisbane to a warmer climate that would suit Baba. In 1958 using money willed for the purpose by the Australian Sufi leader Baron Von Frankenburg Brabazon purchased an eighty-two-acre pineapple farm on Kiels Mountain, Woombye, Queensland. Brabazon had telegramed Meher Baba to approve of the purchase of the property. Meher Baba approved the site, writing back by telegram on the 2nd of February 1958 'Place secured by you excellently suitable'. During 1958, with three paid workers from Queensland and with the help of several lovers from Sydney and Melbourne, Francis and Bill Le Page had worked feverishly (often in the rain) to have the Avatar's Abode site ready in time to welcome Baba. While he was there in 1958 Meher Baba named the area Avatar's Abode and said it would become a place of world pilgrimage. Avatars Abode is one of three main centres set up worldwide, the other being Meher Spiritual Center and the samadhi (tomb-shrine) in Meherabad, India
Read more about this topic: Avatar's Abode
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