Abbotsford Convent — Attraction in Melbourne

I’ve been living in the area for 5 years and have been regularly visiting the lawn area of Abbotsford Convent for the past 2 years. However, today I had an unfortunate and unexpected experience.

While sitting on the lawn with my dog playing with his ball off-leash, I was abruptly approached by a man with greying hair, medium-length, wearing glasses, who identified himself as the manager. He walked towards me very quickly and instructed me to leave, stating that dogs must remain on a leash. Without waiting for a response or acknowledging me further, he turned away abruptly.

I was taken aback, as I’ve been a regular visitor to this area for years and had never encountered such a situation. I explained that I always keep my dog on a leash when exploring the convent grounds but assumed it would be acceptable to let him play off-leash in this specific area, given that he is well-trained. The manager, raising his voice and in an unnecessarily confrontational tone, insisted that it was dangerous as there were children around and reiterated that it was not allowed. He then walked away, pretending to be occupied while clearly waiting for us to leave.

I promptly called my dog and left the area. As I was leaving, I was approached by another staff member who had overheard the situation and kindly apologised for the incident.

After this experience, I visited the Abbotsford Convent website and found that it clearly states dogs must be on a leash at all times. While I now understand the policy, I believe it would be incredibly helpful if the physical signage in the park also reflected this rule clearly. The current wording, which mentions dogs being on a leash “when exploring the convent,” is ambiguous and could easily lead to misunderstandings, as it did in my case. Many locals, like myself, regularly use this space, and clearer signage would prevent further confusion.

Additionally, I feel it poses a greater risk to children and families visiting the space to have a public, family-friendly park littered with alcohol cans, small plastic bags of suspicious contents, and cigarette butts, which I observed during my visit on Sunday Jan 12th at 9:00 am. Addressing these issues would contribute greatly to ensuring the space remains safe and welcoming for everyone.

It’s truly disappointing not to feel welcome in such a beautiful space that is such a significant part of our community. I hope this feedback helps improve the experience for...

This re-purposed once Judai-Christian convent now non-secular (as per the sign out front) site incorporates music conservatories, textile artists, a cafe, beautiful well-established gardens, regular farmer's markets and some adhoc gallery exhibitions as well. It's a slightly confusing layout with questionable way-finding, although I suspect this may be deliberate in an attempt to create an argument to "wander, discover, and be intrigued by the entire experience." This may work for some, and that's fine! Personally, as an architect interacting with the spaces within the site, I wish there was greater coherence, perhaps like it would have espoused while under the watchful eye of the diocese. A homage to its former self. I say this as its once Judai-Christian history has been diluted to the point that non-secular seems almost like a euphemism for "without a genuine sense of place, space or meaning." This seems a little sad to have inherited such an extraordinarily profound site and to then enable an almost "she'll be right mate" approach to its purpose? There is tremendous potential to organise and define this site in a way that pays homage to the former residents while empowering, educating, and inspiring in a far more meaningful and coherent way than what it currently exists. That said, it's still worthwhile visiting. Especially during the farmer's markets where there are some wonderful stalls filled with amazing produce and products of interest. As far as the catering on site goes?... well?... its always been hit and miss, especially post-COVID, as they've never really found great hospitality staff to replace the previous team. The food can be nice and their service would be off? Or the service is great and the food might be questionable? Perhaps it's just a sign of...

Went to Abbotsford Convent recently for a walk in the afternoon and had a fantastic time! If you enjoy art, gardens, good food and just wandering, this place ticks a lot of boxes.

The buildings are beautiful with its old convent architecture, courtyards, heritage mix. There are art studios, galleries, creative workshops going on, so there’s always something interesting to see. You don't have to participate, but you can walk along, take a peek and feel inspired by the artistry.

The grounds are big enough that it never feels too crowded. The gardens, lawns, shady trees are great for sitting with a book, having a picnic, or meeting a friend for coffee. The cafe and bakery near the entrance are solid. Good treats with nice settings.

Around the back of the property there's a nice walking path where you can see some animals like ponies and sheep, which are a favourite with the kids.

Parking can be a bit tricky, so plan a bit ahead of time. And wear comfy shoes, because there’s quite a bit of walking if you want to explore all the corners.

Overall, it’s one of my favourite inner‑Melbourne spots to relax, soak up some art, and enjoy a nice food & nature combo. Would go...