From a lavish parlour where an Archbishop stopped daily for tea to a 120-year-old balcony overlooking the Convent gardens, dozens of rarely accessible spaces will open to the public at Abbotsford Convent as part of Open House Melbourne.
For one day only, visitors will be invited to explore parts of the historic precinct that are normally closed to the public, with a dedicated map guiding them through hidden rooms, grand staircases, heritage details and contemporary creative spaces. Artists and creatives onsite will also welcome visitors into their studios to share practice.
The guided Open House Melbourne tour of the Convent is fully booked, but visitors can explore the precinct independently, including the following highlights:
- The Bishop’s Parlour
With velvet drapes, ornate carpets, colour-drenched walls and a lavish pokerwork fireplace, the Bishop’s Parlour is one of the most decorative rooms in the Convent precinct. The room was used by the Mother Superior to meet VIP guests and new members of the order, and was also where the Archbishop would stop for tea on his daily walk from from Kew to the city. - The Grand Staircase
Hidden behind the Bishop’s Parlour, the Grand Staircase is framed by ornate timber balustrades and vibrant stained glass. Look closely at the steps and visitors can see the marks left by tens of thousands of footsteps over more than a century. - The Mural Hall
Behind heavy wooden doors, visitors will find a striking black-and-white marble floor and a large mural depicting Calvary, painted by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The outline of the four-metre-high wooden cross that once stood at the centre of the mural can still be seen. - The Heritage Balcony
Usually closed to the public, the Heritage Balcony offers sweeping views across the Convent gardens, set off by 120-year-old tessellated tiles and elegant lace ironwork. After falling into disrepair, the balcony was restored in 2018. - The Convent Building and artists’ studios
Once home to Sisters, novices and postulants, the Convent building now houses more than 130 creatives. Many of the former bedrooms have been transformed into studios, with nearly artists and creative practitioners opening their doors to visitors during Open House Melbourne. - The Mercator Building
The building’s layered history reflects the many lives of the Convent precinct. Once part of the Convent’s Magdalen Laundry, where thousands of women and girls worked under oppressive conditions, the building later became home to the Mercator Lighting Company. Today, it is a thriving creative hub, housing studios for jewellers, ceramicists, painters and illustrators. - The Rosina Courtyard
Often missed by visitors, tucked away beside the Sacred Heart Courtyard, the Rosina Courtyard is a peaceful, sheltered space filled with camellia trees. Visitors may even catch the sounds of classical musicians rehearsing inside the Rosina Auditorium. - Magdalen Laundries
Founded by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in 1863, Abbotsford Convent operated for more than a century and was home to thousands of girls and women, some of whom lived in the Sacred Heart building or worked in the onsite Magdalen Laundry.
While the Convent provided shelter, food and education for tens of thousands of women and girls, the history of institutional care is also one of hardship and trauma for many who experienced it. Abbotsford Convent acknowledges the complexity of this history and the stories of the women and girls who lived and worked at the site.
Today, the Abbotsford Convent Foundation stewards the site as a not-for-profit arts, culture and learning precinct. The Convent has no religious affiliations and is now home to more than 130 creatives, as well as galleries, performance spaces, studios, cafés, schools and community organisations.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the Convent at their own pace during Open House Melbourne, using a dedicated map to discover the spaces open to the public.
Open House Melbourne at Abbotsford Convent
Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Date: Sunday 26 July 2026 (10.00am – 4.00pm)
Free entry – no bookings required for independent exploration.
For more information, visit: www.openhousemelbourne.org for details.