New Norcia is located 132 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia, along the Great Northern Highway. The town is located on the banks of the Moore River in the Shire of Victoria Plains.
In 1846, two Spanish Benedictine monks, Rosendo Salvado and Joseph Serra started a mission for the local aborigines 8 kilometres to the north of the present location. A year later, the mission moved to the current town site where the foundation stone for the monastery was laid. The town was named New Norcia after Norcia in Italy, the birthplace of St Benedict. New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia, and the Benedictine monks still occupy the town today.
The monastery buildings are influenced by traditional Spanish architecture, and included among the historical buildings are two former boarding schools. St Ildephonsus’ and St Gertrude’s which now function as accommodation and social facilities. The Abbey Church contains the tomb of Rosendo Salvado the founder and first Abbot of New Norcia. The old mill, a wine press, a hotel and the monastery are all located within New Norcia, and daily tours of the town are available.
St Ildephonsus’ was opened in 1913 and run by the Marist Brothers until 1964. From 1965, the Benedictines took over and named it St Benedict’s College. St Gertrude’s was established in 1908 and in 1972, both the schools became co-educational. In 1974, the two colleges merged and became known as Salvado College, and in 1986 it became Norcia Catholic College which eventually closed at the end of 1991.
Two aboriginal boarding schools located in New Norcia were closed in the early 1970s. St Mary’s (for boys) situated next to St Ildephonsus’ and St Joseph (for girls) situated next to St Gertrude’s.
St Joseph’s is now converted into a Museum and Art Gallery which houses the works of Australian and international artists, and hosts displays denoting the history of the region. In 1986, 26 of the paintings were stolen. A few weeks later 25 of the paintings were returned badly damaged, and these were eventually repaired.
New Norcia is well known for its bread which was milled and baked in wood-fired ovens by New Norcia Bakeries under an agreement with the Benedictine Community.
The European Space Agency ground station is located 8 kilometres south of the town.
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Australia