History
Built in many stages between 1880s and 1960s, Mercator was part of the Laundry precinct.  Its rough-cast render provides a link between it and the other buildings constructed at the same time. Its constant updating reflects the Sisters’ aim to maintain best practice in the business of laundries – their main income source. Most Good Shepherd convents around the world utilised a commercial laundry set up as a dominant stream of income and as a place of work for their inmates.  The Abbotsford Convent looked after washing needs of the Archbishop, some of Melbourne’s genteel community, as well as several hospitals and Hotels such as The Windsor.

This building was the principal sorting and washing area within the laundry complex.

Proposed use
A professional glass blowing studio has already been established in a section of the Mercator building.  That studio’s model of offering classes and workshops as well as a retail facility and demonstrations of the art form is one that sits well within the Convent’s ethos. It is hoped that practitioners in other art forms (eg: timber, ceramics) can be encouraged to establish similar operations in the remainder of Mercator.  In this way, ideally the space will offer additional training opportunities as well as retail outlets.