Heavenly Queen, also known as 'Mazu', Lin Mo Liang  A.D. 960-987) was born in Meizhou Island in FuJian Province during the Sung Dynasty in China. At her birth, a brilliant light appeared in the north western sky, and the scent of perfume filled the home. She was given the name Mo (Silence) because as a newborn, she never cried. At her early age, she demonstrated great intelligence with photographic memory, healing the sick and helping the poor people. She also acquired the ability to predict weather, saving many fishermen lives at sea. Although her life was of short duration, her intelligence and life-saving legend remained forever. After her death, people built a temple on the Meizhou Island at the spot where she ascended to heaven and became immortal. This became the origin of all Heavenly Queen temples around the world.

Devotees around the world continue to believe that Heavenly Queen will protect all those who pray to her before setting out, and that she will save the lives of anyone on the open sea who cries to her in their hour of distress. Her birthday is celebrated each year on the 23^rd March of the Chinese lunar calendar in all places with a Chinese sea-faring tradition. Not only is Heavenly Queen a traditional Chinese religious figure who saves people’s lives and promotes mercy, her legend is also part of the traditional Chinese culture and has continued unabatedly for more than one thousand years.

This statue was designed and constructed in Nanjing China and shipped in to Melbourne on April 2008 and later installed on 10 November 2008. The statue is made of stainless steel and the total cost of the statue and its base structure, approximately four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, was funded by donations from devotees in Melbourne and around the world. This 16 meter-high statue is dedicated to Heavenly Queen for her continued legend in Australia. 

The 10^th Committee of Heavenly Queen Temple    April 2009