The longest shortcut-New Norcia (8)

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 more recently, as a place of spiritual retreat. The town is located on the Great Northern Highway 130 km north-east of Perth in the West Australian wheatbelt. It really is an unexpected place to find a village of Spanish architectural style and certainly the last type of village you would expect to find in country WA. From the 1800’s the monastery has been involved in agricultural production, primarily to ensure self-sufficiency of the community. To this day, the monastery is renowned for its bread making abilities with product sold in New Norcia and Perth. Production of olives, grapes for wine and cereals has been undertaken from early settlement and continues to this day. Interestingly, there is also a Benedictine art gallery in the village which is open to the public. The art is comprised principally of post-renaissance Italian and Spanish works dating from the 16th Century. Some of the pieces were selected by the town's founder, Bishop Salvado, during his trips to Europe, others were collected for him by agents, and some were gifted to the community. Many of the paintings were damaged when thieves cut them from their frames in 1986, most have since been restored and many are on display (https://www.newnorcia.com.au/museum/art-gallery). Over the years I have stopped in New Norcia to top up on fuel and coffee but have never stayed over-night. This was our opportunity to explore the town and to experience its hospitality.

Heading east to New Norcia, West Australian wheatbelt, from the Pinnacles

NEW NORCIA

St Gertrude's College for Girls, New Norcia

Entrance to St Gertrude's College for Girls, New Norcia

Staircase to guest rooms in St Gertrude's College for Girls, New Norcia

Top Left: Sitting room; Top Right: Dining room. Bottom Left and Right: Guest Room: St Gertrude's College for Girls, New Norcia. Now used as accommodation for pilgrims and tourists.

From the St Gertrude School gardens to Abbey Church, New Norcia

St Gertrude's College for Girls, New Norcia

Abbey Church, New Norcia

Workshop door, New Norcia

Quite beautiful gardens surrounded the Monastery buildings. New Norcia.

Benedictine Monastery, New Norcia

Monastery farm building, New Norcia

Even the architecture of the farm buildings of New Norcia was memorable

St Ildephonsus' Boys' School, New Norcia

View from the pastures across the Moore River East to St Ildephonsus' Boys' School, New Norcia

The Monastery Grain Store, New Norcia

Handball court

Handball court and St Ildephonsus' Boys' School (behind)

Handball courts (below)

St Ildephonsus' Boys' School

New Norcia cemetery and St Ildephonsus' Boys' School (behind). 130 Benedictine Monks and Sisters were buried in the cemetery, along with local district pioneers and aborigionals associated with the community. Burials commenced in the 1860s.

The cemetery continues to be used by the local community

The graves of Pat and Paddy Jackamarra. It would be interesting to know their history

Aborigionals were recognised with a simple white cross

You may also like