Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
The Abbotsford Convent now thrives as a hub of art, culture and learning, but it has a hidden history most people - Melbournians and tourists alike - don’t know about.
Step off the beaten track with She Shapes History and uncover the secret history of the Abbotsford Convent - once the largest charitable institution in the Southern Hemisphere.
Home to one of the few remaining infamous Magdalen Laundries, this site once housed and fed up to 1000 women and children at its peak. Our passionate and knowledgeable local team worked with the Abbotsford Convent Foundation to bring these stories to life, and we promise you’ll leave with a unique and thought-provoking insight into how the Convent shaped lives, communities, and the country far beyond its gates.
Important note:
This tour is suitable for adults and children aged 15+ only. The tour includes discussion of grief, loss, trauma, neglect, abuse, sexism, racism, child labour, and institutionalisation.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We meet at the Clarke Street Gates, near the corner of Yarra St. Please note this is not the main entrance to the Abbotsford Convent.
The tour finishes out the front of the Abbotsford Convent main entrance.
Itinerary
-
1
We visit significant sites within the Convent’s gates, including the gardens, the farm, St Mary’s (now the Sophia Mundy Steiner School), the Logistics Building, the Magdalen Laundry and the Memorial Garden. The 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.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guides use headsets
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
