New Norcia...

New Norcia is just over an hour and a half drive from Chidlow. It is Australia's only monastic town, and has been run by Roman Catholic monks since 1847. I went purely to see the old buildings, as it is an oddity amongst the normal Western Australian wheatbelt towns.

 I miss the historic buildings of the UK, how so much history still stands in walls that have stood for hundreds of years. Quaint little villages and castles. Where the essence of the past still whispers in the corridors as one passes through. 

I would love a conversation with a centuries old building. Imagine what they have witnessed over all the years as they have stood, silently guarding. So feeling a little melancholy, I thought a trip to view these buildings might brighten my day.

I am not actually sure what the oldest building in Western Australia is, but this collection of Spanish style buildings must be some of the oldest still standing. 

In 2017 the main road going through the town was diverted to stop further damage to the buildings. There was a lot of deterioration to the buildings, in some the bricks worn away from the wind and rain. 

The monks still run the bakery which was established in 1886, and is famous Australia wide in culinary circles for its nutcake, olive bread and biscotte. They also sell olive oil and locally made wines, ports and beers, as well as religious souvenirs. 

There is a small museum, but I avoided that as there is a dark history with the first nation people. 

I did however go up to view an exhibition in the art gallery which displayed a series of works with a modern twist to the normal religious paintings one often sees in such places. 

I will post these tomorrow...