In what was then very outback Australia of the 1840's, a Spanish Monk established a Monastery to tend to the local Aboriginal community who he had converted to Christianity. From a very humble beginning a community of 120 Monks, 4 schools, a General Store, Bakery, farming and church flourished. They were an order of the St Benedictine fold and have built a truly amazing community. Today there are only 13 Monks and 3 Nuns in residence, however, the community has embraced tourism, adding an excellent Museum, a grand collection of Art, a hotel and accommodation of wonderful architecture, Roadhouse, camping area and a religious and school Retreat all administered by the Abbot.
 
On the way we drove through Canamah, near a large inland salt lake, a proud town with many of the old buildings covered in artwork, so was Moora where we paused for a walk and lunch. The countryside of farmland being so different to the last 5 months of our journey that we were continually commenting of the well ordered pastures and crops interspersed with wildflower.
 
Now to New Norcia which is both beautiful in countryside and architecture. The long tenancy of the Monks is palpable in the surrounds of what is a sprawling village which at its peak possibly had 1000 Monks, lay-staff, students and workers. Many of the Spanish Monks were artisans, one was an architect who was responsible for many of these wonderful buildings.
www.newnorcia.wa.edu.au is very worth a visit to gain some facts and figures. Today's property is only a small area of its past tens of thousands of acres, yet it is still a working sheep property and has its own wheat pastures and olive groves.

We took the tour around the grounds and buildings, 2 hours of interesting facts and stories and legends. We also took part in afternoon prayers with the Abbot and Monks in their private chapel upstairs in the monastery, afterward we chatted with the Abbot a while, a very welcoming chap. As well as catering for the RV and Caravanning community, travellers are welcome in a wing of the vast monastery building, or can take a room in the hotel which was originally a guest house in former days. Incidentally, as well as selling monastery baked bread, olives and olive oil, the hotel offers Abbey Ale, a refreshing drop of beer and Abbey Port. God bless the Monks!
 
Speaking of the Hotel, soon after we completed the tour and returned to the Lotus Inn, snuggled underneath some imposing trees at the camp, we found that Paul and Jan had arrived so we opted for drinks at the Hotel and dinner to boot. Once settled at the bar another couple we had met at Cape Range National Park walked in and joined us for a really enjoyable evening.

A brief comment regards the following morning, Evi decided to get up early and take a walk of several kilometres, during which she was attacked on the right ear by a Magpie, twice!