New Norcia, a leisurely and scenic two hour drive northeast from Perth a little piece of Spain emerges out of the Australian bush. Everyone, regardless of their beliefs, will find themselves stilled by the soul of this tranquil community.

The Benedictine monastery is located on the site of the original 1847 mission building in New Norcia . The monastery is still home to a community of monks who live a simple communal life of prayer and work within the monastery. Surrounding this beautiful town is a 19,760-acre working farm, first established in 1847 by the Spanish Benedictine missionaries. New Norcia is made up of 69 buildings spread over approximately ten acres with 27 of its buildings being listed by the National Trust due to their heritage value.

New Norcia is Australia’s only monastic town and the best way to discover it is to take a tour with one of our experienced guides.Guided town tours take you behind closed doors and reveal the town's many layers as you hear fascinating stories of the last 160 years. Although the monastery is not open to the public, the tours take you into the monks’ prayer oratory and you can learn about the history and present life of the occupants of the monastery. Other highlights include the beautiful chapel at St Ildephonsus’ and St Gertrude’s Colleges and the Abbey Church. All of these sites are linked by commentary from our guides, which brings together the three aspects of New Norcia's rich history: Indigenous, European and Missionary.

Whether your passion is for heritage, art, architecture or nature, or you just want to escape into the relaxing pace of New Norcia, a town tour is for you.
Tours start at 11.00am and 1.30pm daily and tickets can be purchased from the New Norcia Museum & Art Gallery. Combined tickets for a tour and entry into the Museum & Art Gallery are also available.

New Norcia is open every day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day. Approximately 75,000 people visit every year and the monks employ about eighty full time, part time and casual employees to operate the town. Its businesses include a Roadhouse and Post Office, Hotel, Education Centre, Museum and Art Gallery, Gift Shop, Farm, Guesthouse and a Group Accommodation Service utilising the two college buildings and the old convent. So there is a lot to see and do in New Norcia!

If you have time to stay overnight why not enjoy the hospitality of the Monastery Guesthouse and benefit from the sanctuary of this quiet retreat. To fully experience the peace, quiet and prayer, you can participate in the daily celebration of the Divine Office and Eucharist, and join the monks for their seven daily prayers. Spiritual direction is available on request.

Accommodation in New Norcia is also available at the atmospheric New Norcia Hotel which has been welcoming guests since it was opened as a Hostel by the Benedictine monks in 1927. Nestled beneath gum trees on a rise overlooking the town, the classically styled columns, pressed metal ceilings, terrazzo tiles, Salve on the threshold (which means welcome in Latin), tell you that this is no ordinary country pub! Still owned by the monks, the Hotel is a practical expression of their tradition of hospitality. Enjoy a coffee or lunch on the verandah, a glass of Abbey Ale or Wine at the bar, dinner in the grand dining room or a special function on the balcony.

 A visit to New Norcia would not be complete without a visit to the Museum & Art Gallery. Here paintings by Spanish and Italian masters and gifts from the Queen of Spain are on display as well as a fascinating array of artefacts. The gift shop provides an opportunity to purchase an assortment of locally sourced produce including our renowned New Norcia Olive Oil, New Norcia Abbey Ale, New Norcia Wines and Ports, New Norcia Bakeries goods and an assortment of home-made preserves and honey. It also features an assortment of religious items and souvenirs, natural cosmetics, toiletries, wool products, art, books and music. Here you will also find the Visitors Centre and the departure point for the guided town tours.

To soak up the Spanish influenced architecture and learn about the history of this unique monastic town and its time as an Aboriginal mission, follow the New Norcia Heritage Trail. The Heritage Trail has two parts, a two kilometre walk through New Norcia and a 1.7 kilometre river walk. Allow three hours to explore both of these self-guided trails.

All money spent during your visit to New Norcia is used by the monks to help preserve their home – Australia’s only monastic town.

New Norcia Business Directory

New Norcia Hotel
Phone: +61 8 9654 8034
Fax: +61 8 9654 8011
Email: hotel@newnorcia.wa.edu.au

Museum and Art Gallery
Phone: +61 8 9654 8056
Fax: +61 8 9654 8124
Email: museum@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
 
New Norcia Roadhouse & Post Office
Phone/Fax: 08 9654 8020
Email: rhadmin@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
 
New Norcia Guesthouse
Phone: +61 8 9654 8002
Mob: 0429 919 000
Fax: +61 8 9654 8097
Email: guesthouse@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
 
Friends of New Norcia
Phone: +61 8 9654 8167
Toll Free: 1800 882 235
Fax: +61 8 9654 8097
Email: friends@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
 
New Norcia Education Centre
Phone: +61 8 9654 8107
Fax: +61 8 9654 8097
Email: educationcentre@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
 
Calendar of Events 2010