Francis Brabazon - Avatar's Abode

Avatar's Abode

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 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." Previously 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 in Le Page's car several times, the longest trip was 350 miles north, during which they slept under the stars by night. Now they looked to Queensland. In 1958 using money willed by the Australian Sufi leader Baron Von Frankenburg Brabazon bought a Pineapple farm on Kiels Mountain, Woombye, Queensland to host Meher Baba on his second visit in 1958. Meher Baba's telegramed approval of the site. While he was there, Meher Baba named the area Avatar's Abode and said it would become a place of world pilgrimage.

Francis Brabazon lived in India for ten years with Meher Baba from 1959 to 1969. Here he often caught up with visiting friends from Australia and life there could be amusing. Once during a long session in the hall, Baba motioned to Francis and Bill Le Page to go out for a cigarette smoke, sensing that they needed a break. Baba once commented as Francis walked out, 'Francis is always going to the toilet. He always has to piddle.' Later, emphasizing the closeness of Francis and Bill, Baba turned to Le Page and remarked, 'Yes, you love Francis very much, and he loves you very much — but I love you both very much more than you do each other.' After returning to Australia Francis resided at Avatar's Abode until he passed away. His grave is on Avatar's Abode overlooking the ocean.