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Address

New Norcia Benedictine Community
New Norcia Road
New Norcia WA 6509

Getting There

Main Office

T: +61 8 9654 8018
F: +61 8 9654 8097
E: information@newnorcia.com.au

Friends of New Norcia / Volunteering

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: friends@newnorcia.com.au

Museum & Art Gallery

T: +61 8 9654 8056
E: museum@newnorcia.com.au

Group Accommodation & Education Centre

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: groups@newnorcia.com.au

Communications

T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: communications@newnorcia.com.au

Guesthouse

T: +61 8 9654 8002
E: guesthouse@newnorcia.com.au

Roadhouse

T: +61 8 9654 8020
E: roadhouse@newnorcia.com.au

Visit New Norcia

People visit New Norcia for many reasons; for spiritual retreat, to join a tour and see inside the magnificent buildings or sometimes just to walk around the town and enjoy the peace and beautiful scenery.

In this section you will find all the information you need for your visit to New Norcia. Details of places to eat and places to stay, details of the town tours and information about some of our favourite things to do in Australia’s only monastic town.

We recommend your first port of call is the Museum & Art Gallery to speak to one of the staff about the attractions and experiences New Norcia has to offer. The Museum & Art Gallery is also a Visitor Information Centre and is the point from which town tours leave.

Stay at New Norcia

There are so many different options for accommodation at New Norcia.

The Guesthouse is perfect for a quiet, retreat like experience - a world away from the rigours of modern life. You can join a Benedictine retreat here or be housed in the Hermitage for a silent retreat. Groups can be accommodated in the Old Convent or the historic boarding school colleges. Smaller groups are also able to book the Hostel, with its comfortable rooms, neo-classical architecture, scenic deck and heritage veranda, as well as St Ildephonsus' Cottage.

Please click on the areas on the right for more information.

Eat & Drink

Hospitality is a tenet of the Rule of St Benedict, the Rule by which the monks of New Norcia live, so wherever you choose to eat in town, our aim is for you to experience warm monastic hospitality.

Education & Research

From the earliest days of its foundation New Norcia has been focussed on education. The first Abbot, of New Norcia (Rosendo Salvado) established the Aboriginal girls and boys schools and the second Abbot of New Norcia, Fulgentius Torres built and opened the European girls and boys schools, which closed in 1991.

Since the closing of the schools, New Norcia's school buildings and grounds have been utilised by groups undertaking education programmes.

However, New Norcia also has a tradition of research and academia, with its impressive archival records and library collection, and scholars and researchers alike have delighted over the years in the information available in the town's records.

This section also provides information on the archives and library and provides link to forms which will give you access to the records of New Norcia.

Protecting a Unique Heritage

New Norcia is Australia’s only monastic town and has a unique heritage. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, the town has had many purposes; a mission, a monastery, a provider of education and now as a place of spiritual retreat.

Delve into the town's unique history, discover the ongoing and completed work necessary for the upkeep and restoration of this special part of Australia.

But it is not only the majestic buildings set amongst the Australian bush that sets New Norcia apart; its history is also encapsulated in the archival records of New Norcia and in the library and museum collections.

In this section we also have information about how you can donate to New Norcia to help the Community restore and maintain this treasure.

What's Happening at New Norcia

We hold a diverse array of events throughout the year at New Norcia.

Each year we host a full programme of events including a spiritual retreat programme presented by the Institute for Benedictine Studies, dinners at the New Norcia Hostel and a few other surprises!

Watch this space for all the updated information about "What's on at New Norcia".

News

Tuesday, 2nd May 2023

Easter at New Norcia: A First-timer's Reflection

by Jim Longbottom

As a recent new resident, as well as oblate, at New Norcia, I was excited to “bathe” myself in the entirety of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum here. It was a most wonderful spiritual journey for me.

I took photos at the Palm Sunday service, where we started in front of the monastery with the Abbot reading the gospel story of the triumphal entry and blessing our olive branches. We then processed into the Abbey Church, led by Fr Robert playing tin whistle and Solomon on the acoustic guitar, all of us singing the Alleluia.

Abbot John reading the gospel
The procession to the church commences
Fr Robert and Solomon lead the congregation as we all sing the Alleluia
The choir enter the church followed by Fr David, Fr Anscar and Fr Abbot, then the congregation behind.

After we entered the church and the service began, I was part of the choir, so facing the congregation. I found it really moving as Fr Robert read the full Matthean account of the Passion narrative (Mt 26:14-27:66), while I was looking back over the unique Stations of the Cross and Fr Lesmes Lopez’ painting of Jesus before Pilate.

I had fully intended to take photos right through the Triduum, to share the experience with others, but so profound was the experience for me that I never once thought of taking another image.

The beauty of all the experiences included:

  • The Divine Offices and daily masses that I attended in Holy week.
  • Holy Thursday evening mass of the Lord’s Supper and foot washing.
  • The Good Friday afternoon celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the procession and the vigil in the Spanish Chapel.
  • I had a family wedding to attend in Perth Saturday, so I missed Fr Robert’s concert featuring the music of Philip Glass, which by all accounts was fabulous.
  • I arrived home midnight Saturday, had a quick sleep and returned for the vigil in the Abbey Church at 4:30am. This was a particular highlight. We started at a fire outside the monastery gates, ceremoniously baptised the paschal candle, then each of us lit a taper at the three stops in the procession to announce the light of the world. Fr Robert then read scripture to bring home the point of the resurrection. The candlelit church was then plunged into light and the service continued. When it was finished, we proceeded to the Monastery parlour for a festive breakfast. After a short break we moved back to the church for mass.
  • The Sunday was beautifully “rounded out” with solemn paschal vespers in the choir stalls of the Abbey Church at 5:30pm.

The whole experience made for a most profound and moving Easter experience.