New Norcia

It was just 160 km to New Norcia, where I have always wanted to visit after reading so much about the Monastery and the buildings that make up this town. All the reading and information you can gather does not prepare you for just how grand and amazing this place really is. You don't need to be a catholic to appreciate this special place and if you are ever in Western Australia then a visit to this town should be on everyone's bucket list. Its located about 132 km northeast of Perth in the wheat-belt. 

The town or estate covers 41 square kilometres and twenty-seven of the buildings are listed on the heritage register. All revenue raised goes back to the monks for the running of the estate. 

New Norcia was founded in 1874 by Spanish Benedictine Monks led by Rosendo Salvado, and in those early years there were eighty monks living here, but today there are just ten.

You can wander around the town at your own leisure but to really appreciate and learn about the history of the town then a guided tour is a must. Our $45 gave us a two-hour tour and access to the museum and art gallery, as often as we liked. 

The tour also gave us access to the interiors of many of the buildings you would not normally get to see.

We dined at the hotel on our first evening which was built in 1927 and funded by the Queen of Spain who after it was completed planned to visit but never did. All the doors including the staircase to the second floor were all oversized to accommodate her huge flowing dresses.

The Abbey Church houses the marble tomb of New Norcia's founder Rosendo Salvado. One of only two large Moser organs crafted in Germany and imported to Australia in the 1920s is also in the church and often played by one of the monks.

The visitor centre contains the art gallery, museum and a well-stocked gift shop. It also contains works by European masters and gifts from the Spanish Queen.

This Chalice was presented to Rosendo Salavado by Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain in 1857.

This Gothic Style Chalice was given to Abbot Fulgentius Torres by Pope Pius X in 1910. Abbot Fulgentius Torres was the second Abbott after Salvado, who died in December 1900.

This ivory crucifix belonged to Fr Santos Salvado, Chaplin of Her Majesty the Queen of Spain Dona Isabella the Second, and he cedes it to the mission of New Norcia in November 1868.

This crown which is silver plated with semi-precious stones belonged to D. Pablo Martinez, personal Chaplin to Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain. 1868

The gift shop offers locally sourced gifts and a range of New Norcia's produce including Olive Oil, Abbey Wines, Bread baked on the estate and Abbey Beer with an alcoholic content of 7.3%. The grapes are grown south at Bindoon and the wine then matures in the cool cellars under the Monastery. 

The Monastery residence is the home to the Benedictine Monks and is a restricted area however we were encouraged to take photos of the courtyard.

St Ildephonsus College was also designed by Abbot Fulgentius Torres and was originally a boys boarding school run by the Marist Brothers. The chapel is amazing and the murals painted on the walls and above the altar are just stunning.

St Gertrude's College was also designed by Abbot Fulgentius Torres and was originally opened as a girls boarding school, with the murals in this chapel being more feminine but still spectacular. 

This scrub roller was pulled by horses to loosen and flatten scrub in preparation for burning and clearing.

And this wine press was used on the Benedictine Community's property south-east of New Norcia.

The current Abbot is Father John Herbert, the 7th Abbot of New Norcia and we told on our tour that he speaks ten different languages fluently.

Being self-contained we were able to camp on the oval for just $10 a night. If you required power, toilets and showers then it was $20 per night behind the roadhouse.