State of Western Australia Things To Do

It's 150 years since a small band of Spanish Benedictine monks made their way inland some 100km north of Perth, then just a small settlement on the banks of the Swan River. With faith, dedication and amazing resilience they set about their work, building their monastery, abbey church, no less than 4 boarding schools and the complete small township that today stands as testament to these incredible men.

They named their town New Norcia, for the Italian city of Norcia where St Benedict was born, but they were Spaniards and they built their town in Spanish style. There is still a small community of monks at New Norcia though the monks have had to find new ways to support themselves. The schools closed some years ago, one now serves as the town's museum and art gallery, and the whole township is is listed on the National Estate as an important historical site, but it is still a living working town. One new enterprise has seen collaberation with the European Space Agency for the building of their first deep space ground station on the monastery's land - these are very modern monks indeed.

Visitors are always welcome. It's an easy excursion from Perth for the day but even more rewarding is to stay overnight in the monastery guesthouse. Guided tours are offered daily and these give access to the lovely chapels within the old school buildings as well as the monks' private chapels, the guesthouse cloister and the old flour mill. The art gallery holds the most important collection of religious art in Australia, some pieces of which were given to the monastery by the Spanish monarchs. There are lovely self-guided walks through the olive grove and orchards as well as a heritage trail walk around the township itself. Visitors are welcome to join the monks in their chapel for any of their prayer services and mass is celebrated each day in the Abbey.

A fine day in winter, and Spring are the best time of year to go to New Norcia, it does get hot out there in summer.

Things to Do in State of Western Australia

Visiting State of Western Australia?

Visiting State of Western Australia?