The Abbotsford Convent | Women's History Walking Tour
ID: GYG1182613-1813168
Category:
Country: Australia
Duration:
02:00 hours
Description
The story of the Abbotsford Convent, told through the women whose daily lives were shaped by this place, and whose work, obedience, friendships, and resilience helped keep it running.
This is the story of the Abbotsford Convent, told through the women who lived it.
Behind these familiar gates are stories most people never hear. Women and girls whose daily lives were shaped by this place, and whose work, obedience, friendships, and resilience helped keep it running.
On this two-hour walk, you’ll move through the grounds where girls woke before dawn to work in the laundries, where silence and routine were used as discipline, and where care often came with control. You’ll learn how young women were separated from their families, how unpaid labour supported the institution, and how faith shaped everyday life inside the Convent.
But this is not only a story of harm. You’ll also encounter quieter, human moments. Friendships formed under watchful eyes. Moments of dignity found in difficult conditions. Girls supporting one another within a system far bigger than themselves.
This tour is a powerful window into Victoria and Australia’s complex history of social welfare, and how places like the Abbotsford Convent shaped lives, communities, and the country far beyond its gates.
Highlights
- Magdalen Laundry - the place whose income kept the Convent alive.
- The Sacred Heart Chapel
- Abbotsford Convent Memorial Garden - created in 2018
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tour covers just over 1km in 2 hours. We move at a very relaxed pace, and there are a few chances to pause in the shade and sit down along the way. The route includes some uneven footpaths but no stairs.
Your tour will start just outside of the Clarke Street Gates at the Abbotsford Convent. Your guide will be easy to spot in a pink She Shapes History jumper or shirt, holding a tote bag and wearing a big smile.
Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to meet your guide. We really do like to start on time — there are so many stories to share, and we don’t want to miss a minute.
INCLUDED
- Local guide
- Two hour experience
NOT INCLUDED
- Transport to and from the meeting place
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
