What to expect
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.