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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

Monday, 4th December 2023

The 2024 Abbot Placid Scholar is announced!

The Abbot Placid Spearritt Memorial Scholarship selection committee proudly announces the awarding of the 2024 Scholarship to esteemed Australian mezzo-soprano, Allegra Giagu.

Allegra's journey into the world of opera began with her début at the Sydney Opera House at the age of eleven. She has worked with Opera Australia and sung as a soloist with the Sydney Symphony and the Australian Chamber Orchestra amongst others.

She is an ABC Classic Artist, nominated for an Aria Award, featuring on Evergreen Ensemble’s, Curious Caledonians. Allegra is also featured on the Oscar-nominated and Ivor Award-winning film soundtrack of Anna Karenina, written by Dario Marianelli; and other soundtracks, advertisements and recordings.

Her career gained international attention following Leo Schofield’s selection of her as a soloist for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Salute to Australia, leading to a collaboration with Dame Judi Dench and Classic FM in London. This success prompted her relocation to London where she studied at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music. Allegra is now undertaking doctoral research at the University of Melbourne on eighteenth-century Iberian Music-Theatre.

Watch an example of Allegra’s ensemble, Mamás Bravas, this year at Bloomington Early Music Festival in the United States of America:

In her application for the Abbot Placid Spearritt Scholarship, Allegra proposed an intriguing exploration into the musical legacy of Dom Salvado at New Norcia. She plans to delve into his compositions, including those housed in New Norcia’s archives, reflecting his unique contributions to musical traditions.

Allegra’s research aims to spotlight Dom Salvado’s life, highlighting his influential role in shaping a distinctive musical heritage at New Norcia. The project seeks not only to shed light on Dom Salvado's musical contributions but also aims to bring his compositions to contemporary audiences, providing a unique opportunity to revisit and celebrate an important chapter in the history of music at New Norcia.

We are excited to see how Allegra's innovative approach will enrich awareness of Dom Salvado's musical life, and we look forward with great anticipation to the performances and insights that will emerge from her research.