Go behind the scenes of the Convent in these speciality tours for Open House Melbourne.

Inscribed on the National Heritage List in 2017, Abbotsford Convent holds historical significance for a number of people and communities.

Located on part of the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people, the Convent was one of the largest Catholic complexes in Australia for more than 100 years. The site was then temporarily owned by the Lincoln Institute, which merged with La Trobe University in 1989.  After the University departed, the site was won by a major property developer who proposed the site be turned into an apartment complex, which started a seven year community campaign to save the Convent.

In 2004, the State Government of Victoria gifted the site to the public for the use of community arts, culture and learning. Today, the Convent is home to more than 150 artists and creators, and our beautiful National Heritage listed precinct can be experienced through a dynamic arts, culture and events program that respects the history of the site whilst building a living heritage of continued community engagement.

We invite you to explore these histories further in the following tours:

Welcome to Country

With Colin Hunter Jnr Jnr (Wurundjeri)
2.30pm | Hospital Lawn

Guided Tours

First Nations Birrarung Walk
Led by Jack George (Wurundjeri).
3pm | Meet at Main Gate

Prenota ora

Gardens and Landscape Tour
Led by Writer and Environmentalist Sophie Cunningham & Heritage Architect Nigel Lewis.
3pm | Meet at Main Gate

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Sacred Heart Restoration Tour
Led by Lynn Chew (Associate Principal, Kerstin Thompson Architects).
3pm | Meet at Main Gate

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Magdalen Laundries Tour
Led by Architect Peter Williams (Founding Director of Williams Boag Architects).
3pm | Meet at Main Gate

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Panel Talk: Living Heritage: Innovative Design Approaches

Chaired by esteemed Landscape Architect Ron Jones.
Panelists include Tour Guides and Virginia Blue (Heritage Architect).
4.30pm | Linen Room
Bookings not required — ticketed tour participants will be given priority access.

Free tours and experiences:

Social History Tours
Incontro al cancello principale
1pm and 2pm

Open Studios
Mercator Building | Convent Building
Studios open 2pm – 4pm
Tours at 2pm and 3pm

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Heritage Projects Images and Video Display
With Heritage Expert Lynette Dean
Salon | 1 — 4.30pm

Exhibition & Demonstration: Simultaneously Particular and Vague
By Cloud May Studio
St Heliers Street Gallery | 8am – 10pm

REVERB
Precinct-wide | 5.30pm — 9pm