The discussion about establishing a Nepalese community centre in Queensland began in 2006–2007, following the formation of the Nepalese Association of Queensland (NAQ), the first formal association representing Nepalese people living in the state. The idea was originally conceived by Mr Hari Khadka, a prominent community leader, and NAQ carried this vision forward for several years. Initial fundraising efforts were undertaken through the sale of food items at community gatherings and sporting events, led primarily by Mr Hari Khadka and Mrs Rajani Khadka.
Although these early activities demonstrated strong commitment and community spirit, the initiative progressed slowly and lacked sustained momentum. At one stage, NAQ formally established a committee, chaired by Mr Khadka, to further explore the development of a community centre. However, due to scepticism and limited support within parts of the community at the time, the project was unable to gain the necessary momentum to move forward.
In 2015, Mr Aviman Singh Basnet was elected as a State Coordinator for the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), and he revived the initiative to establish a community centre. As a result, the effort was revitalised. A number of community discussion forums were organised to gather information and to develop policies and plans for the proposed centre. A tentative framework was developed but ultimately delayed, as the investment was not considered feasible based on risk analysis and the community’s financial capacity.
While these discussions were still ongoing, a group of community members living in the northern suburbs of Brisbane began a campaign to build the centre as a group investment rather than as a community-owned entity. Although this approach generated some interest, its overall feasibility was limited. Following further discussions, the model was once again revised in favour of a community-based structure. Several consultation meetings were held, a committee was formed to oversee the process, and some preliminary work was completed. It was then decided that a separate entity would be registered to manage the community centre, working closely with the Nepalese Association of Queensland and the Non-Resident Nepali Association Australia, the two leading community organisations, and preparations for registration were undertaken.
The Queensland Nepalese Cultural Centre was formally registered with the Office of Fair Trading, Queensland Government, in 2017, and the first management committee under the newly adopted constitution was formed under the leadership of Mr Hari Khadka. Later, in 2019, the name of the association was updated as the Queensland Nepalese Cultural Centre.