ANAM at Abbotsford Convent

In July 2020, we announced that we will be joining the creative community at the Abbotsford Convent for up to the next three years. You can read more about the reasons for our move by clicking the ‘media announcement’ button below.

We've created this webpage as a space to share information about our new home. We'll continue to update this page as we discover our new territory and we thank you for your understanding during this time of transition.

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ABOUT THE ABBOTSFORD CONVENT

Just four kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD and spread over 16 acres, the Abbotsford Convent – with its 11 historic buildings and gardens – is Australia’s largest multi-arts precinct. The site is home to over 120 studios, galleries, cafes, a school, 3MBS radio station, and an abundance of green open space. Every year the Convent curates and also welcomes a diverse range of art projects, rehearsals, workshops, exhibitions, markets, events and festivals. For more information, you can explore the Abbotsford Convent's website HERE.

Abbotsford Convent is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge their sovereignty and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

OUR COMMUNITIES

The Convent is home to some beautiful performance spaces that we look forward to exploring. We are also committed to staying connected to our communities in the City of Port Phillip area – our home for the past 24 years – and we are exploring performance location options in that area while the South Melbourne Town Hall is undergoing restoration work. We will also continue our relationships with venues such as Melbourne Recital Centre. When the time comes, we will present concerts in the safest way possible to meet health and physical distancing requirements.

ANAM Musicians, Faculty, Staff and Supporters

Our absolute priority when considering our relocation and interim home, has been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff, musicians, Faculty and members of our community, and to provide everyone with the most ideal conditions in which to work, train and engage in music-making in the coming years. We continue to seek regular feedback (through surveys and discussions) from our musicians, staff and Faculty which enables us to provide the best and most relevant support. We have also been grateful for (and continue to encourage) the feedback we have received from our audience and supporters.

ANAMates Members

We will continue to offer free annual ANAMates Membership for City of Port Phillip residents and we will be exploring similar options for those in our new local community.

GETTING THERE

The Abbotsford Convent is located at:
1 St Heliers Street
ABBOTSFORD VIC 3067
You can view this address on Google Maps HERE.

PARKING: All day parking is available in the car park directly across from the Convent on St Heliers Street. The machines accept credit cards, notes and gold coins. Funds from the car park go towards the restoration and daily operation of the Convent, and also support the neighbouring Collingwood Children’s Farm.

Parking Weekday rates
30 mins: free
90 mins: $5 ($2/hour thereafter)
6-10 hours: $14 ($2/hour after 10 hours)
Max daily rate (until 2am): $28
Additional overnight fee (after 2am): $25
Lost ticket: $28

Parking Weekend rates
30 mins: $3 ($2/hour thereafter)
5½–10 hours: $14 ($2/hour after 10 hours)

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Catch a Mernda or Hurstbridge line train to Victoria Park Station (please note, the Clifton Hill express train does not stop at Victoria Park). The train station is a 10-15 minute walk to the Convent, or you can catch the 200 or 207 bus down Johnston Street to the Clarke Street stop. The bus stop is a 3-5 minute walk to the Convent.

RIDE/WALK: The Capital City cycling and walking path directly passes the precinct. The St Heliers Street turn-off is opposite the entrance to the Collingwood Children’s Farm.

ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility is very important to us. The ANAM administration offices will be located on the second level of a building at Abbotsford Convent, but is accessible via lift. The Abbotsford Convent Foundation acknowledges that there are some access challenges inherent in some of the Convent’s heritage buildings but is very committed to improving accessibility. More information about specific buildings/facilities can be found HERE and you can click the button below to view the accessibility map for the precinct.

The toilets on the ground floor Annexe of the Convent building are open to the general public seven days a week (until 10pm); others are restricted as explained below.

Convent building: unisex, ground floor, Annexe (via the access ramp between the Convent Bakery and Cam’s or via stepped access on the southern side of the Annexe); accessible toilets are also located on the 1st level and 2nd levels via the lift in the south-west corner (north-east and south-west corners)
Mercator building: unisex, ground floor (open daily, variable hours)
Providence building: unisex, ground floor (open weekdays during business hours and during Slow Food and Shirt and Skirt market times)
Rosina building: ground floor, via the courtyard; (for venue hirers and their guests only)
Sacred Heart building: ground floor
St Euphrasia building: unisex, ground floor – accessible entrances from south side of building (3MBS Community Radio; not open to the general public)
St Mary’s building: unisex, ground floor (Sophia Mundi Steiner School students, staff and visitors only)

ACCESSIBILITY MAP