On 1 March 1846, a Benedictine mission to the local native Aboriginals was started about 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".
Town
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, the abbey church, 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. 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. 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 died on 18 January 2010, aged 99. He continued to prepare the bread for the monks and olive oil almost until his death.. Today New Norcia is increasingly respected in Australian culinary circles for its quality bakery offering bread, nutcake and biscotti. Also maintaining olive oil production and locally made wines, port and ale can be purchased at the community or from special outlets.
Originally known as the New Norcia Hostel, the New Norcia Hotel is an operating business in the community.
Abbey
The abbey was founded by a Spanish Benedictine, Rudesindus Salvado, on 1 March 1846. After three years spent among the local Aboriginal people, Salvado came to the conclusion that they could be converted to Christianity. Salvado was appointed the first abbot of New Norcia on 12 March 1867. Following his death on 29 December 1900, Father Fulgentius Torres OSB was elected abbot in 1902. There are currently 11 monks living in the monastery. They pray together seven times a day.
Abbots
Source:
Rosendo Salvado, 12 March 1867 – 29 December 1900, died as abbot, aged 86 years
Fulgentius Torres, 1902 – 6 October 1914, died as abbot, aged 53 years
Anselm Catalan, 1915–1951, died 29 July 1959, aged 80 years
Gregory Gomez, 1951–1971, died 31 May 1995, aged 91 years
The abbey buildings are on the eastern side of the current highway alignment through the town. There are two pipe organs located within the abbey buildings. In the Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity is a large German organ, built in 1922 by Albert Möser of Munich, with 34 speaking stops. The organ was designed in consultation with the abbey organist, Dom Stephen Moreno. The second pipe organ, of 11 speaking stops and much more modern in style, is located in the oratory chapel. This organ was built in 1983 by Bellsham Pipe Organs.
Colleges
There have been a range of colleges situated in the town, associated with the monastery. They are situated on the west side of the current main road alignment which passes through the town. In 1972, St Benedict's and St Gertrude's become co-educational with student from both colleges sharing classes in 1974 became known jointly as Salvado College. Each building was still referred to individually as St Benedict's and St Gertrude's. In 1986 Salvado College became New Norcia Catholic College, which closed at the end of 1991. The colleges were among those investigated by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for historical accusations. There were 65 claims of abuse made about New Norcia, of which 26 were about a single perpetrator. In 2016 a trial in the District Court of Western Australia testimony was presented about the behaviour by monks at St Benedict's college during the 1960s and 1970s, including taking indecent photographs of boys, hitting boys, push them up against brick walls and other indecent acts. While the allegations were recognised as truthful, the identity of the perpetrator was disputed with the jury finding the alleged person not guilty.
There were also two Aboriginal orphanages, St Mary's and St Joseph's, which closed in the early 1970s. The two buildings still exist. St Mary's is next to St Ildephonsus' and St Joseph's is next to St Gertrude's. St Joseph's orphanage has been converted into the New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery. Beside displaying many Christian relics and historical paintings, the gallery hosts an exhibition of finalists for the Mandorla Art Award, the only Australian award solely for Christian religious artworks based on Bible scripture themes. In 1985 the first winner of the prize was Theo Koning with based on the theme Creation from the Book of Revelation 15:3. In 1986, twenty six paintings were stolen by two robbers. Several weeks later, all but one of the stolen paintings were returned. They were badly damaged, but were eventually repaired.
With decreasing numbers of active colleges, and changes in the organisation of the town, some buildings and sites have been restored and incorporated into a heritage trail within the town. The following buildings are among the heritage buildings situated on the site of the monastery, which is registered on the Register of the National Estate and classified by the National Trust of Australia WA:
