Benedictine monastery of New Norcia
Entire town established to support the day to day activities of a Benedictine Monastery. Check.
Only example in Australia. Check.
Welcome to New Norcia, Western Australia, located 126km north of the Perth CBD, and 57km north of the town of Bindoon. New Norcia was founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine monks, less than 20 years after the establishment of the Swan River Colony. It is the only monastic town in Australia, and has served as both a monastery and a mission throughout its life. Benedictine monks still reside there today.
The New Norica settlement, in addition to the monastery, was a fully functioning town site to service the needs of residents and included blacksmith’s workshop, police station, flour mill, bakery, schools (St Gertrude’s and St Ildephonus’ colleges) and so on. The whole town is registered on the National Estate and 27 buildings are heritage listed by the National Trust.
New Norcia Monastery gates with trees before their Spring regrowth. Fujifilm X100V, Wide conversion lens, ISO 160, 1/160s, f/8, circular polariser, ACROS + Red filter film simulation
My visit was during the second week of Spring and everything was very green, with dandelions creating patches of yellow carpet throughout the grass. Regrowth was yet to begin on some trees, so I can imagine different seasons, and even different times during the seasons can look very different.
Trees before their Spring regrowth casting shadows like long spindly fingers on the path and monastery building of New Norcia. Fujifilm X100V, Wide conversion lens, ISO 320, 1/120s, f/11, circular polariser. "Kodachrome 64" film simulation from Fuji X weekly website.
Given some of the buildings are 150+ years old, there are many signs, details and features of the ravages of time. I found myself gravitating away from taking the more typical shots of the Monastery and greater scenes, and instead focusing on the texture and details of history and decay.
Flaking paint, crumbling bricks and mortar, rusting steel, an old fuel pump, caught and absorbed my attention for quite some time. Click on one of the images below to open a larger gallery view.
There are two flour mills in the town. The original smaller one dates to around 1850 and the adjacent much larger one that replaced it, to 1879.
Original flour mill of New Norcia, circa 1850. Fujifilm X100V, Wide conversion lens, ISO 320, 1/120s, f/11, circular polariser
1879 Flour mill of New Norcia. Fujifilm X100V, Wide conversion lens, ISO 320, 1/140s, f/11, circular polariser, ACROS + Red filter film simulation
“Those who do the Lord’s work, also do laundry”.
Click on an image to open gallery view.
There is so much history and wonderful European architecture to explore in New Norcia. And I have much of it left to see, having only scratched the surface, and certainly plan to return again soon.
New Norcia is an easy day trip from Perth, with the travel time around 90 minutes each way. There is a great deal of parking, a tourist information centre, museum and art gallery and guided tours are available. If you go in early Spring, and have not yet got your fix of yellow of the Canola fields of York and greater Western Australian wheatbelt, there were some good canola crops between Bindoon and New Norcia to view (but not enter).
Old New Norcia Police Station. Fujifilm X100V, Wide conversion lens, ISO 320, 1/220s, f/8, circular polariser
For those planning to spend more time, there are number of accommodation options to stay at New Norcia. Options range from caravan and camping sites, the Guesthouse, the Old Convent and the former boarding school colleges. The New Norcia Benedectine community website has a wealth of information to plan your visit or stay.