Take a Guided Tour

Self-guided tours are available at other times by purchasing our History Booklet ($5) for the ACF office during business hours or the St Helier Community Store on weekends.

The Abbotsford Convent is steeped in history and interest. For over a century, the precinct housed a closed order of Good Shepherd Sisters, as well as the many hundreds of women they cared for.

Living memories have been collected from some of the women who were here; be they orphans, girls perceived to be in moral danger or those who attended the public school. The Sisters' experiences have also been recorded and we have compiled detailed historical documentation to build the comprehensive social history tour of the Abbotsford Convent. You can experience the precinct's unique history as you walk around its 6.8 hectares and enter some of its astounding buildings. The guided tour provides an introduction to the development of the Abbotsford Convent precinct, from its use by the Kulin people, pastoral pioneers, the Good Shepherd Sisters and La Trobe University, to the present day arts, culture and education community. See the decayed grandeur of the dramatic interiors of the iconic buildings on site and explore the lifestyles that existed during the precinct's century of operation as a closed Convent. Bookings are advised.

Parking
Car parking is available in the public car park on St Heliers Street. A $4 fee payable upon arrival allows all day parking. Gold coins are preferred. Buses may drop passengers off on the corner of Clarke and St Heliers Street. Passengers will have a short walk along St Heliers Street to the entrance of the Convent. Buses may park at the end of Clarke Street for the duration of their stay.

Important information
Tours take approx 75 minutes. The tour is a walking tour and is not suitable for people with walking difficulties due to the presence of several staircases, regular occurrences of uneven ground and the time limitations of our volunteer tour guides.

The tour will take place in all weather conditions. Please provide suitable weather protection such as raincoats, umbrellas or sunscreen.

Due to continuing development on site, the tour route will vary according to the presence of building works.

Meetings, conferences, markets and festivals occur at the Abbotsford Convent daily. The tour route will vary according to the presence of venue hirers.

At times, Sunday tours may not operate due to unforseen circumstances. Please contact the bookings number to confirm.