Images and Video
The Women of the Abbotsford Convent: The Women Behind the Gates
Highlights
- Explore the historic Abbotsford Convent grounds, uncovering stories of resilience and community among women and girls.
- Walk through the quiet corridors where daily routines shaped lives, revealing the discipline and care of the past.
- Discover the emotional connections forged under watchful eyes, highlighting friendships that flourished amidst challenging conditions.
- Learn about the complex history of social welfare in Victoria, gaining insight into the lives shaped by this significant institution.
This is the story of the Abbotsford Convent, told through the women who lived it.
Behind these familiar gates are stories most people never hear. Women and girls whose daily lives were shaped by this place, and whose work, obedience, friendships, and resilience helped keep it running.
On this two-hour walk, you will move through the grounds where girls woke before dawn to work in the laundries, where silence and routine were used as discipline, and where care often came with control. You will learn how young women were separated from their families, how unpaid labour supported the institution, and how faith shaped everyday life inside the Convent.
But this is not only a story of harm. You will also encounter quieter, human moments. Friendships formed under watchful eyes. Moments of dignity found in difficult conditions. Girls supporting one another within a system far bigger than themselves.
This tour is a powerful window into Victoria and Australia’s complex history of social welfare, and how places like the Abbotsford Convent shaped lives, communities, and the country far beyond its gates.
Tour details
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Available from 7 February 2026 to 31 January 2027
This business does not currently offer accessible facilities.
Operation information
She Shapes History – Melbourne
Walk into Australia’s hidden history.
At She Shapes History, they believe the past isn’t confined to textbooks – it lives in the streets beneath everyone’s feet. Their guided walking tours in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne uncover the extraordinary stories of the women who shaped Australia’s political, social, and cultural life.
For too long, women’s contributions have been sidelined or forgotten. They’re here to change that. Their tours bring history to life through the lens of the fearless, formidable, and often overlooked women who challenged the status quo and reshaped the nation.
From suffragettes and social reformers to artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, She Shapes History offers a fresh feminist take on Australia’s past — one that’s as empowering as it is enlightening.
Whether you’re wandering Canberra’s corridors of power, tracing feminist landmarks in Sydney, or navigating Melbourne’s cultural laneways, our experiences go far beyond the usual history tour. They’re immersive, inclusive, and unforgettable.
Join them as they rewrite the story of Australia — one woman, one story, one step at a time.
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