About

St. David’s and the Balkara Parish

Balkara has become the name for our parish formed through the joining together of the Tamil Church Melbourne, the Cook Islands Uniting Church, Clayton, the St. Davids English congregation, Oakleigh, and the Hughesdale English congregation. In late 2006, the Hughesdale congregation joined with St. David’s to worship in Oakleigh.

Oakleigh Worship Centre - front viewThe St. David’s congregation has had a long history through her founding congregations in the Hughesdale-Oakleigh-Clayton area. Founding congregations include the Clayton Methodists, the Huntingdale Presbyterians, the Macrina St. fellowship, the Hughesdale congregational church, and the Oakleigh Methodist and Presbyterian congregations. In 2006 we celebrated 150 years of church presence in this region of Melbourne.

The Oakleigh Worship Centre is a complex of buildings including church, large multi-function hall, commercial kitchen, and various meeting or function rooms. The centre is jointly used by the Tamil Church, Melbourne, and the St. David’s, Oakleigh congregation. The venue is available for hire to community groups also.

The Oakleigh Worship Centre is located at:

154 Drummond St., Oakleigh, Victoria, 3166

click for google map.


The Balkara Dove

Balkara Dove EmblemBalkara is a word from the local Aboriginal language meaning native dove. At the heart of the Uniting Church logo is the dove of the Holy Spirit.The Balkara logo is completed with the central symbol of the cross of Jesus Christ, and the native flora that are our roots into this particular place.

As part of our vision for the parish we have adopted the motto:
Balkara: A parish for all nations.