The Pod Well Travelled: Australia’s only monastic town

This week on our dedicated travel podcast, we explore Australia’s only monastic town, New Norcia.

Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, the unique settlement — that looks like it’s been plucked from a bygone village in Spain — is located about 130km north-east of Perth in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt.

The West’s travel team recently spent a weekend exploring the small picturesque town, when it held its annual weekend away with a group of nearly 40 like-minded readers.

Join Penny Thomas and Megan French as they recap the eventful weekend that included things like writing workshops, photography courses, panel discussions and an extra special music performance in the Abbey Church.

Megan also chats with our good friend Will Yeoman from Writing WA, who gives us an insight into the type of things he teaches budding writers during his popular writing workshop, plus he tells us what he enjoys most about being involved in an event like this that is centred around fun and learning.

Stephen Scourfield also joins the conversation and reflects on the historic and spiritual aspects of the New Norcia settlement, whilst acknowledging its sad and difficult past.

What’s more, Megan’s put together a collection of videos from our weekend away in New Norcia that we’ll be uploading to our TikTok @thepodwelltravelled and Instagram @thepod_welltravelled accounts.

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