Women's History Walking Tour of the Abbotsford Convent

Step off the beaten path to uncover the history of what was once the largest charitable institution in Australia


She Shapes History
She Shapes History
4.9 (50)
Instagram followers 28k followers

2 hours

Experience size 1 to 4 (public dates), 12 to 24

  $20 - $60 ($20 for Child; $60 for Adult) (Afterpay & PayPal Pay in 4 available)

The Abbotsford Convent now thrives as a hub of art, culture and learning, but it has a hidden history most people - Melbournians and tourists alike - don’t know about.
Step off the beaten track with She Shapes History and uncover the secret history of the Abbotsford Convent - once the largest charitable institution in the Southern Hemisphere.
Home to one of the few remaining infamous Magdalen Laundries, this site once housed and fed up to 1000 women and children at its peak. Our passionate and knowledgeable local team worked with the Abbotsford Convent Foundation to bring these stories to life, and we promise you’ll leave with a unique and thought-provoking insight into how the Convent shaped lives, communities, and the country far beyond its gates.
*Important note:*
This tour is suitable for adults and children aged 15+ only. The tour includes discussion of grief, loss, trauma, neglect, abuse, sexism, racism, child labour, and institutionalisation. The tour covers just over 1km in 2 hours. We move at a very relaxed pace, and there are a few chances to pause in the shade and sit down along the way. The route includes some uneven footpaths but no stairs.
  • This walking tour is not wheelchair accessible and is best suited to mobile travellers
  • The tour runs for two hours
  • Suitable for first-time and regular visitors to Melbourne and the Abbotsford Convent
  • Learn about the women that history books overlook
  • Stroller / pram accessible
  • Well-behaved dogs allowed and must be kept on a leash the whole time
  • Public transportation nearby
What you'll get
  • Passionate & Professional Local Guide
  • Limited edition stickers to take home
  • A group photo with your guide
  • A follow-up list of resources and further reading on the stories shared
Knowledge required
This tour is suitable for those who know nothing about Australian history and Melbourne and for those who feel they already know all there is to know!
What to bring
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing, and bring a water bottle, sunscreen and a hat! This tour runs rain or shine, so if it looks like it will rain, we recommend bringing an umbrella.
Location

Clarke Street Gates, Abbotsford Convent - Clarke Street, Abbotsford VIC

Women's History Walking Tour of the Abbotsford Convent location
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She Shapes History
She Shapes History

4.9 (50)
Instagram followers 28k followers
female Women-owned

We're on a mission to make Australian women's history accessible, entertaining, and engaging through walking tours, social media and one-off events.
She Shapes History started with a simple question – "Where are the women in the history of Australia?"
Bushrangers, convicts, diggers, blokes and battlers are often seen as the main characters of Australian history. In the story of our nation, women have frequently been cast as minor characters. Countless stories have been lost, left unrecorded, undervalued, and untold. As a society, it's so easy to forget that women were behind many of the moments that shaped Australia.
We believe that by recovering the remarkable stories of the women who shaped history, we can challenge our perception of women today. Closing the respect gap in Australian politics and culture today requires that we recognise and re-imagine what Australian women, particularly First Nations women, queer women, women of colour and women with disabilities, have achieved in the past.
While there are many ways to learn more about our history, there is nothing quite like a walking tour. Walking tours offer a unique opportunity to share history in an inclusive, accessible and non-judgmental context.
We use walking tours to highlight the diverse and often forgotten women behind the moments that shaped Australia. We want all Australians, no matter their race, gender or sexuality, to be able to see themselves in Canberra's landscape, in Australian history, and the story of our nation.
So, where are the women in the story of Australia? Well, as you'll discover on our tours, everywhere.

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class V48I01Z33L 34c052b7f77f35dccea660a6ce51910d production melbourne Melbourne VIC AU melbourne