New Norcia Hotel facts for kids
The New Norcia Hotel was an old building in New Norcia. This town is in Western Australia's Wheatbelt area. The hotel was part of the Benedictine Monastery Precinct. It first opened in 1927. It was a hostel for people visiting and for families of students at the New Norcia colleges. Later, it welcomed everyone. The hotel closed its doors in January 2020.
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Discovering the New Norcia Hotel's Past
New Norcia is a very special town. It is Australia's only monastic town. Spanish Benedictine monks started it in 1847. For many years, there were boarding schools linked to the monastery. St Gertrude's opened in 1908 for girls. St Ildephonsus' opened in 1913 for boys. By 1926, the old places for visitors were too small. Many people came for Easter gatherings.
Building the New Hotel
Because of the many visitors, a new and bigger hostel was needed. Construction started in 1926. The new hostel opened in 1927. A modern garage for cars also opened at the same time. The building had two floors. It was made of stone in a classic architectural style.
Hotel Features and Design
A wide stairway led to a hallway inside. Guest rooms were on both sides of this hall. The windows looked out over the monastery's large farm. From a balcony with columns, you could see St Gertrude's College. You could also see St Joseph's Orphanage and the public chapel. The porch floor had traditional Spanish style tiles.
Changes Over the Years
By 1952, the hostel had electricity. However, the power was turned off at 9 pm. Guests were given candles after that time. In 1955, the hostel became the New Norcia Hotel. It had fifteen rooms. It also had a bar and a restaurant. The monks were the first religious group in Australia to get a hotel licence.
From the 1980s, New Norcia promoted tourism. It focused on its unique history and spiritual experiences. Using the old buildings helped to keep them in good condition. By the 1990s, the hotel still looked much the same.
Why the Hotel Was Important
The New Norcia Hotel was recognized as a special place. It was added to the Register of the National Estate on October 21, 1980. The National Trust also classified it on November 3, 1991. Its condition was described as "good."
The Hotel's Closure
In the first week of January 2020, the monks announced the hotel would close. They said it was "not part of [their] strategic plan." This meant it no longer fit their main goals. A letter was sent to people living nearby.
We regret to inform you that after long consideration, the Board of the Benedictine Community has reached a decision to permanently close the New Norcia Hotel. As a Community we understand the New Norcia Hotel has been of significance to generations of locals and the decision to close it has not been taken lightly.
—Father John Herbert
The president of the Shire of Victoria Plains, Pauline Bantock, spoke about the closure. She said it would greatly affect the local community. The hotel was popular with tourists. It was also the only place within 50 kilometres for meals and social gatherings.
