Dhargyey Buddhist Centre is the headquarters of the Buddhist community in Dunedin, New Zealand, based at Linden, a Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga category 1 historic place.
Linden Linden, at 22 Royal Terrace, is a historic house in the city's Royal Terrace-Pitt Street-Heriot Row Residential Heritage Precinct which also includes Olveston."A2. Heritage Precinct Values" on Dunedin City Council website, retrieved 5 July 2025 It was built in 1879 for Jacob Isaac, a merchant associated with the New Zealand clothing company Hallensteins, and was built by architectural partnership Mason & Wales, probably to a design by Nathaniel Wales.
The house was later owned by food manufacturer Richard Hudson, who established the city's chocolate factory. Hudson's widow Mary lived in the house until 1937, after which it became a boarding house until 1976, when it was bought and restored by Eleanor and Richard Dowden as a family home.Galer, Lois Houses and Homes, Allied Press, 1981
The Buddhist community replaced the roof with new slate in 2016, assisted by funding from New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Otago Community Trust and the city council's heritage fund.Gibb, John "Excitement over renovation, new teaching monk" Otago Daily Times 14 April 2016, retrieved 5 July 2025
The building is subject to damp from having had a nearby street backfilled against the basement wall.Harwood, Brenda "Help on the way for Buddhist haven" The Star 2 March 2025, retrieved 5 July 2025
In 1988, Linden was listed as a Category 1 Historic Place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). It is noted by the organisation for its historical significance due to its connection with Hudson, and architectural and townscape significance as a largely unmodified grand Victorian house within a precinct of similar notable structures.
Buddhist centre The Dhargyey Buddhist Centre was founded in 1984 as a Buddhist teaching centre for the Venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey."About the centre" on Dhargyey Buddhist Centre website, retrieved 5 July 2025
The Buddhist community bought Linden house in 1986.
The centre describes its main function as "to encourage harmony and unity through the sharing of Buddhist philosophy".Dhargyey Buddhist Centre website, retrieved 5 July 2025
The Dalai Lama visited the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre in 1996Cook, Marjorie "Happy to have Dalai Lama as guest", Otago Daily Times, 5 June 2002 and in 2013; on the second visit he suggested the centre could convey Buddhist concepts of self-help and science of mind, to the wider community.
The centre marked the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in 2025.Harwood, Brenda Celebrations mark Dalai Lama’s 90th The Star 3 July 2025 retrieved 5 July 2025
Stupa A stupa commemorating Geshe Dhargyey, built and maintained by the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, overlooks Portobello on Otago Peninsula near Dunedin.
References
External links Dhargyey Buddhist Centre website