Town like No Other, A: The Living Tradition of New Norcia

SUPERIOR FINE COPY The history of the Benedictine Monastery of New Norcia, 132 kilometres north of Perth. 156 p. : col. ill., ports. ; 25 cm. #0921
New Norcia (/ˈnɔːsiə/) is a town in Western Australia, 132 km (82 mi) north of Perth, near the Great Northern Highway. It is situated next to the banks of the Moore River, in the Shire of Victoria Plains.

New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia. A ground station for the European Space Agency is located 8 km south of the town.[2][3]

On 1 March 1846, a Benedictine mission to the local native Aboriginals was started about 8 km (5 mi) to the north, led by the two Spanish Benedictine monks, Rosendo Salvado and Joseph Serra.

Within a year the mission was moved to where the town is today and on 1 March 1847 the foundation stone of the monastery was laid.

The place was named New Norcia after Norcia in Italy, the birthplace of St Benedict. Unlike the Italian town, which is pronounced “nor-cha”, New Norcia is pronounced “new nor-sia
The town of New Norcia has buildings in a Spanish style of architecture, along with some other historical sites. Among these are the two old boarding schools, St Ildephonsus’ and St Gertrude’s (both now used for accommodation and various social functions), the abbey church (containing the tomb of Rosendo Salvado), an old mill, a wine press, a hotel and the monastery itself.

The town has attracted interest and tourist visits for most of its existence and as a consequence a number of guide books and histories have been produced.[5][6]

Tours of the town are operated daily by the Friends of New Norcia, who also organise the accommodation in the various buildings including the monastery retreat.[7]

The Benedictine monks continue to occupy the monastery and are involved with most of the enterprises in the town. The last Spanish monk of New Norcia, Dom Paulino, died on 18 January 2010, aged 99. He had worked in the monastery bakery, as a shoemaker, and ‘in retirement’ in reviving the production of olive oil.[citation needed].

Today New Norcia is increasingly respected in Australian culinary circles for its quality bakery (built in 1886) offering bread, nutcake and biscotti.[8] Also maintaining olive oil production and locally made wines, port and ale can be purchased at the community or from special outlets.[9]