Visitor Information

On this page:

Site services
Conditions of entry
Opening times
Getting here
Universal access
Contact us
Precinct map

Site services

The Abbotsford Convent is open 365 days a year and entry is free except between 8am – 1pm on the fourth Saturday of every month when a $2 charge applies for entry to the Slow Food Farmers’ Market.

A 15 minute drop off zone is provided at gate one. All other vehicles can park for limited periods for free in St Heliers Street, or for only $4 per vehicle in the car park (all day) accessible from St Heliers Street. Gold coins are required.

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. There is no dedicated bus parking zone near to the site. Limited street parking is available.

A cash point is located on the ground floor corridor of the west wing of the Convent building, accessible via the pedestrian ramp directly to the right of the Convent Bakery. A withdrawal limit of $200 per transaction applies.

A baby change facility exists within the public toilets of the Convent Annex.

Conditions of entry

All visitors to the Abbotsford Convent are required to observe the following:
• The Convent site is a pedestrian zone;
• Dogs are welcome to accompany their owners onto the grounds and gardens of the Convent site but must be kept on a leash at all times and droppings must be picked up and removed. Other than guide dogs, animals are not permitted within the interior of any of the Convent buildings;
• Children are to remain under supervision at all times;
• All rubbish must be taken with you when you leave;
• The picking of foliage or playing in the garden beds is not permitted;
• During summer months snakes, lizards, bees and wasps are present in the garden. Please be respectful of our native wildlife;
• The use of candles, incense or fire of any kind is strictly prohibited throughout the site;
• Alcohol purchased from licensed premises at the Convent must not be consumed beyond the bounds of those premises.

Visitors enter the site at their own risk. The Abbotsford Convent Foundation will not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury to persons or property incurred whilst in site. By entering the site, you agree to abide by these conditions.

Opening times

The Convent site is open every day of the year from 7.30am - 10pm. The various food and beverage outlets, WellBeing practitioners and arts & cultural activities operate varying times throughout the year. Please confirm specific opening times directly with these tenants or call the Abbotsford Convent Foundation on 03 9415 3600.

Getting here

By train: Victoria Park station on the Epping and Hurstbridge lines is the closest railway station to the Abbotsford Convent. Please note that some services express past Victoria Park station. Once out of the station and on Johnston St, walk east (away from the City) down Johnston St for around 12 minutes to Clarke St. Turn right into Clarke Street (the last right before the Yarra) and left into St Heliers St. The main entrance to Abbotsford Convent is on the right of St Heliers St before you reach the Collingwood Children’s farm.

Alternatively, the bus can be caught from Victoria Park Station down Johnston St rather than walk down Johnston St from the station. The bus details are below.

For further information please call Metlink on 131 638

By tram: Catch any tram down Victoria St Abbotsford/Richmond and get off at Nicholson St Abbotsford (or Lennox St Richmond). Walk north up Nicholson St all the way to Abbotsford St and turn right. At the end of Abbotsford St turn left into Clarke St and then right into St Heliers St. This is a 20-25 minute walk.

For further information please call Metlink on 131 638

By bus: From the City- the 200 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Bulleen, The 201 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Bulleen, and the 207 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Donvale depart from Melbourne Central/ Lonsdale St in the city, run along Lygon St, Elgin St then Johnston St. Alight at Clarke Street bus stop (before Johnston Street crosses the Yarra). Turn right at Clarke St then turn left into St Heliers St. The 205 Melbourne University to Doncaster Shoppingtown begins at Melbourne University then proceeds down Elgin and Johnston St and pasts Clarke St.

For further information please call Ventura Buses on (03) 9488 2100, or call Metlink on 131 638

By car: The Abbotsford Convent is located at the end of St. Heliers St, Abbotsford. The easiest way to get here is to go via Johnston St then onto Clarke St then into St Heliers St (See MELWAYS Ref 44 G5).

All day parking is available in the carpark opposite the site on St Heliers St for $4 (gold coins are required). There is also a limited amount of 15 minute parking spaces on the street.

Parking in the neighboring streets is mainly residential permit only on weekends.

There is absolutely no vehicular access on the Abbotsford Convent site.

For more information see Melways Ref 44 G5, Whereis.com and maps.google.com.au

By bike or foot: The Capital City cycling and walking path passes the site. St Heliers St turn-off is opposite the entrance to the Collingwood Childrens Farm.

Universal access

The Abbotsford Convent Foundation (ACF) is committed to improving access within the Convent precinct for everyone. If people have access requirements, staff will be happy to assist as far as possible.

The ACF acknowledges that there are access challenges inherent in the Convent’s heritage buildings and gardens. A Disability Action Plan is in development to address opportunities to enhance access (including site signage), as funding permits.

An access map of the precinct will be available in the future: watch this space!

Guide/Assistance dogs
Guide/assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Abbotsford Convent grounds and buildings. (All dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.)

Car Parking
The following accessible parking spaces are available for use by holders of a Disabled Persons’ Parking Permit:
•    One two-hour accessible on-street parking space is located on St Heliers St, beside Gate 1.
•    Four accessible parking places are located within the car park on the northern side of St Heliers St ($4 gold coin entry fee; all day). Please note that kerb drops between the car park and the Convent entrances may pose difficulties for people with mobility impairments.
•    Two 15-minute (30 minutes to Category 1 permit holders) accessible parking places are located within the short-term parking area just inside Gate 2). Please note these spaces are available only on weekdays between 7.30 am and 10.30 pm (The boundary gates to the Convent precinct are locked outside of these hours).

Wheelchairs
The ACF is currently unable to offer a wheelchair for loan.

Recharge
The ACF is a partner to the national RECHARGE scheme. Accessible power points are available for people to recharge the battery in their motorised wheelchairs, scooters or bikes. The power points are located externally, on the western side of the Providence Building, just to the left of the ACF office door. (Please note that during markets the power points may be in use by stall holders.)

Bicycle
Bicycle racks are located onsite between Gate 1 and St Euphrasia (3MBS radio station), and bicycle hoops are located on the southern side of St Euphrasia and the northern side of the Rosina Building (near Lentil as Anything). Please use these facilities and always lock your bicycle.

Companion card
Companion Card promotes the right of people with a disability, who require a companion, to fair ticketing at Victorian events and venues. The ACF encourages its event venue hirers to become affiliates of the Companion Card scheme. The ACF itself does not generally produce ticketed events; however, it commits to affiliating with the Companion Card scheme should it produce any ticketed events in the future. For more information, see http://www.companioncard.org.au/.

Audio loops
No audio loops are installed in the Convent’s hire venues. The use of PA systems is not encouraged due to noise sensitivity issues within the buildings (which also house many working creative practitioners). Suitable hearing augmentation systems such as Listen FM can be hired externally.

Buildings
Convent Building: The external ground floor doors to this building require manual operation and are relatively heavy. All public and tenanted areas within the Convent Building are wheelchair accessible. A lift is located near the internal staircase of the south-west wings. Please note the lift is small and only accommodates smaller-sized wheelchairs and there is no turning circle within the lift. It does not have tactile buttons or audio cues.

For wheelchair access to the balcony area of Handsome Steve’s House of Refreshment; a portable ramp is available on request to bar staff.
For wheelchair access to c3 Contemporary Art Space, press the access-signed buzzer on the eastern door to trigger gallery attendants to open the accessible side door to the space. C3’s opening hours are listed on the Abbotsford Convent website. For assistance, please call 03 9416 4300.

Mercator: Studios MG1, MG2, MG5, MG6 and MG9 are wheelchair accessible. There is currently no lift to the studios on the first floor (MF1 to MF5).

Providence: All ground floor areas are wheelchair accessible. There is no lift to the first floor offices.

Rosina: With the exception of the stage and backstage area in the Auditorium, all function and venue hire spaces within Rosina are wheelchair accessible. A lift provides access to all levels of the building. This lift has tactile buttons and audio voice cues.

St Euphrasia (3MBS): Wheelchair access is via the southern doors, and assistance for entry is required. All ground floor areas, including production and recording studios, library and volunteer facilities, are wheelchair accessible. There is no lift to the first floor production studio and meeting rooms. For assistance, please call 03 9416 1035.

St Marys (Sophia Mundi Steiner School): Wheelchair access is via the gate south of the main entrance, and assistance for entry is required. Most ground floor areas are wheelchair accessible. There is no lift to the first floor classrooms, music and education support areas.
For assistance please call 03 9419 9229.

Gardens and grounds: Access through the gardens and grounds is via pathways that are mostly bituminised; some are dirt/gravel. Some surfaces within the Convent precinct may be difficult to navigate and assistance may be required to ensure wheelchair accessibility. Gradients vary from gentle slopes to the north to fairly steep slopes to the south.
The rotunda has two steps leading up to it and is not accessible to wheelchairs (portable ramps are unsuitable for these steps).

Toilets
Accessible toilets are located within all tenanted buildings on the precinct. The toilets on the ground floor Annexe of the Convent Building are open to the general public 7 days a week (until 11 pm); others are restricted as explained below.
Convent Building: unisex, ground floor, Annexe (via the access ramp between the Convent Bakery and St Helier Community Store or via stepped access on the southern side of the Annexe); accessible toilets are also located on the 1st level and 2nd levels via the lift in the south-west corner (north-east and south-west corners)
Mercator: unisex, ground floor (open daily, variable hours)
Providence: unisex, ground floor (open weekdays during business hours and during Slow Food and Shirt & Skirt market times)
Rosina: ground floor, via the courtyard; (for venue hirers and their guests only)
Sacred Heart: ground floor (open during special events only)
St Euphrasia: unisex, ground floor – accessible entrances from south side of building (3MBS Community Radio; not open to the general public)
St Mary’s: unisex, ground floor (Sophia Mundi Steiner School; not open to the general public)

Baby-change facilities
Baby-change facilities are available in the accessible unisex toilet on the ground floor of the Convent Annexe Building, and in the accessible unisex toilet on the 1st floor of the Convent Building (north-eastern landing, WellBeing wing).

Refreshments
Staff at all establishments are happy to provide assistance.
Boiler Bar: fixed outdoor seating; counter heights 930 mm and 1400 mm.
Convent Bakery: movable seating indoors, a mixture of fixed and movable seating outdoors; service counter height 930 mm, display unit height 1410 mm.
Handsome Steve’s House of Refreshments: movable seating, portable ramp to balcony; service counter height 1200 mm.
Kappaya: limited access and fixed seating indoors, a mixture of fixed and movable seating outdoors; service counter height 1400 mm.
Lentil As Anything: movable seating; service counter height 950 mm.
Rosina Function Space: good access and movable seating.
St Helier Community Store: movable seating; service counter height 960 mm.
All measurements are approximate.