Jesuit Social Services

Montserrat Country Retreat

Montserrat Country Retreat is located in country Victoria and provides short term respite accommodation for families from the inner city. The property also functions as a conference centre for Jesuit Social Services' staff and can be leased out to private groups and individuals.
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The Council for the Encouragement of Philanthropy in Australia provided Jesuit Social Services with funds to purchase the stunning 75 acre property, which is located on top of a hill just outside of the township of Alexandra. It overlooks the Goulburn River Valley and has 360 degree panoramic views. The building provides accommodation for a maximum of fourteen people in seven double en-suite bedrooms.

Montserrat is named after a Benedictine Monastery in Spain near Barcelona. It was the place where Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, made a pilgrimage in 1522. He arrived at the monastery gates, bequeathed his mule to the monastery and gave away his elegant clothes, while his dagger and sword became his gifts to the Black Madonna of Montserrat.

Bookings

Please direct all booking inquiries to Jesuit Social Services' Central Office.montserrat-2
371 Church Street

PO Box 271
Richmond VIC 3121
Tel: 03 9427 7388
Fax: 03 9427 1819
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Policies & Procedures for Visitors

Please view and print the Montserrat Policy & Procedures brochures below before leaving for Montserrat Country Retreat. 

Directions to Montserrat

Directions from Melbourne
Map of Alexandra Township


The Madonna Statue

The statue of the Madonna at Montserrat is the work of Vietnamese born artist, Le Thanh Nhon. A top montserra-4graduate of Saigon's School of Fine Arts , Le Thanh Nhon became internationally known at a very early age, participating in the Paris Biennale in 1963 when he was only 23.

He was born in Vietnam in 1940, and migrated to Australia where he lived from 1975 till his death in 2002.

In Australia, in 1991 Nhon was commissioned by the Vietnamese Catholic community of Melbourne to create a statue of the Madonna, cast in bronze, standing two and half metres high. This statue was donated by the Vietnamese community to Jesuit Social Services, to be placed at Montserrat.

Contact Us

Montserrat Country Retreat
159 Halls Flat Road
PO Box 387
Alexandra VIC 3714
Tel: 03 5772 3405
Fax: 03 5772 3406