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Aug 25 2023toAug 27 2023
Guesthouse Retreat
The Desert Fathers — The Earliest Christian Monks
The term ‘Desert Fathers’ (and ‘Desert Mothers’) refers to Christians who, from the late 2nd Century, adopted eremitic and/or coenobitic modes of life in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. The thoughts, sayings and anecdotes of these
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Aug 19 2023
Abbot’s Table: Winter 2023 Booked Out
On October 10 2020, Abbot John donned a kitchen apron to share his former life as a chef, working in some of Melbourne’s finest restaurants of the 1980s. In 2021 a series of seasonal dinners in the French tradition was offered and we are pleased to announce...
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Aug 12 2023
A Day of Recitals, Talks, and Lunch
Centenary of New Norcia’s Pipe Organ
The Moser pipe organ in the Abbey Church has reached its 100th birthday and a celebration is planned for 12 August 2023.
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Jul 28 2023toJul 30 2023
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Jul 22 2023
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Jun 30 2023toJul 2 2023
Guesthouse Retreat
The Apocryphal Gospels—Meeting the Jesus of Myth and Imagination
In addition to the four Gospels contained within the New Testament, a considerable number of other Gospels exist. Although these works embody myth and creative imagination rather than historical truth, they offer intriguing, surprising, and
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May 26 2023toMay 28 2023
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May 20 2023
Abbot’s Table: Autumn 2023 Booked Out
On October 10 2020, Abbot John donned a kitchen apron to share his former life as a chef, working in some of Melbourne’s finest restaurants of the 1980s. In 2021 a series of seasonal dinners in the French tradition was offered and we are pleased to announce...
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May 20 2023
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Apr 28 2023toApr 30 2023
Guesthouse Retreat
Female Benedictine Mystics of the Middle Ages: St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Gertrude the Great, and others
While monasteries and convents of Benedictine nuns flourished throughout Europe during the entire Middle Ages, the amount of writings left to us, in comparison with male Benedictines of the same period, is relatively small.
Contact Us
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
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".