The Abbotsford Convent: Evolution and Experience
The Abbotsford Convent is one of the most intact 19thCentury Catholic convents in Australia. It is located on extensive grounds on the banks of the Yarra River in inner-city Melbourne. The convent was used as a school and university campus following its decommissioning as a convent in the 1980s. Rationalisation of assets and operation by the university saw the convent being offered on the open market. While developers targeted the site for higher density housing, the local community had aspirations for the site to become a cultural and tourism destination for Melbourne.
In 2000 the Victorian Government appointed a Project Facilitation Reference Group (PFRG) to investigate the feasibility of converting the Abbotsford Convent into an arts/ cultural/ education and tourism precinct. The PRFG was Chaired by Prof Rob Adams and included representatives from the Department of Infrastructure, the Arts Ministry, Yarra Council, the Urban Land Corporation, Australand and the Abbotsford Convent Coalition (ACC). SGS Economics & Planning was the consulting firm commissioned by the PFRG to perform the feasibility assessment.
This was a very exciting project for SGS and staff members have since enjoyed witnessing the evolution of the Abbotsford Convent to its current use. Much can be learnt from the process that has occurred over recent years, including the successes and ongoing challenges facing the Abbotsford Convent.
SGS Melbourne's April 2010 quarterly seminar featured three speakers with an intimate knowledge of this project. Prof. Rob Adams (Former Chair, St Helier's Project Facilitation Reference Group) described the project context. Andrew McDougall (Director, SGS Economics & Planning) described the original vision and its testing. Maggie Maguire (CEO, the Abbotsford Convent Foundation) presented on The Convent Today: Reality and lessons.
Download Andrew McDougall's presentation "Original Vision and Testing"
