The Coptic Church in Australia was established when a few Copts diligently searched for a permanent home for their Church in Sydney. An old Methodist Church was offered for sale and the Church Council under the leadership of Fr. Mina Nematalla purchased the double storey Church building at 24 A Railway Road, Sydenham NSW.

The Church was given the name of St. Mary and St. Mina’s Coptic Orthodox Church. It was to be the first Coptic Church in Australia and the first owned by Coptic migrants outside of Egypt. The first liturgy celebrated in the newly purchased church was on the 29 March, 1970.

Through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the guidance of our Pope, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic congregation in Sydney has grown to approximately 50,000 people as at June 2003. Together with the exponential growth in the number of Copts in Sydney has been the increase in the number of Coptic churches, schools, colleges, monasteries and elderly centres.

Close to 40 years since the first church in Sydney was purchased, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III ordained His Grace Bishop Daniel to be the bishop of Sydney and its affiliated Regions on the 23rd of June 2002. These regions include NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.