New Norcia Australia's only monastic town (The Order of St Benedict), is located 132 km from Perth, New Norcia is a combination of a monastery, two schools, a church, and a number of tourist attractions. Part of the interest of New Norcia is the incongruity of the place. These styles of architecture, fresh from Spain and imported into Central and South America, don't belong in the bush and have no heritage in this area. They sit oddly amongst the gum trees and the dry grasses of the wheatlands.

The New Norcia Hotel was ... (more)