The Convent Daylesford

3 Best Day Trips from Melbourne to Mornington Peninsula, Daylesford, and the Yarra Valley | Condé Nast Traveler

"During the 1860s gold rush, The Convent was built as a private residence, but about two decades later it was bought by the Catholic Church and converted into a convent and boarding school. Tina Banitska purchased the property in 1988 and turned it into a gallery. From its hilltop position overlooking Daylesford, the sprawling three-level complex includes retail spaces, café, bar, and gardens. The nuns’ infirmary and one of their bedrooms have been left as they were as an insight into the building’s history. Whether you’re a collector or just want to check out the local scene, this is a great pitstop during a Daylesford overnighter. The curators and owner don’t feel beholden to any particular style or medium, so you’re likely to see figurative portraits in one room, and ink drawings in another." - Carrie Hutchinson