The Ballarat Mining Exchange was transformed into a mini Thailand on Sunday as more than 100 people came together to celebrate the Thai New Year festival.

It was the first time the festival was held on a large scale in the city, with visiting monks encouraging organisers to expand the 2016 festival.

Organiser Dip Yuanjit said the aim of this year’s festival, which marks the traditional Thai new year, was to showcase the best of the Thai culture to the Ballarat community.

“It’s something for the community to come to and experience,” he said.

“There is something charming about the Thai culture, people are always smiling and talking – that is Thailand.”

Mr Yuanjit said money raised from the festival would be used to fund a Thai Buddhist temple establishment in the Ballarat region.

“In the future we would like to have a temple built in Ballarat, but we thought maybe first we could bring people together,” he said.

“In a couple of years time hopefully we can grow (support) and can build a temple.”

More than 100 people attended the Songkran Festival at the Ballarat Mining Exchange on Sunday with an alms giving and Thai dancing showcased to the community.

With 1800 Thai people living in Ballarat, as well as the city’s advocacy as a multicultural destination, Mr Yuanjit said Ballarat was an ideal place for the temple.

“Ballarat people are very welcoming to everyone, it is a very multicultural city,” he said. 

With a number of Buddhist temples in Melbourne and the current prospects of a permanent temple being built in Geelong, Mr Yuanjit said the Thai community were hopeful Ballarat could be the next home for a temple.

Thai Buddhists in Geelong are currently searching for potential sites for the temple which will include a pagoda and chanting hall.