The Convent Daylesford

I visited The Convent Daylesford on 26 December, and unfortunately the main building was closed due to the public holiday. At the time of my visit, only the external gardens were open to the public. Even so, the stop was still worthwhile, especially for the setting and the atmosphere. The building itself is beautiful from the outside. The historic architecture really stands out and you can appreciate the character and importance of the place just by walking around it. Sitting on top of Wombat Hill, the location alone already makes the visit pleasant, with nice views and a calm, relaxed feeling. The gardens are well maintained, peaceful and very inviting. It is a lovely spot to walk around slowly, take photos, or simply sit and enjoy the surroundings. Despite Daylesford being quite busy that day, the outdoor space felt calm and gave a nice sense of escape from the crowds. That said, it is important to manage expectations. If you are hoping to visit the interior or spend more time exploring, I strongly recommend checking opening times in advance, especially around public holidays. In my case, it was not very clear beforehand that the site would be closed on that date, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, it is still a lovely place to visit for the gardens and exterior alone, but clearer and more visible information about opening days and hours would definitely help visitors plan their trip better.

The Convent Daylesford is an absolute gem. The building itself is stunning—beautifully restored, full of history, and set in a peaceful, elevated location with lovely views. The galleries are thoughtfully curated, the atmosphere is calm and inspiring, and the whole place invites you to slow down and really take it in. Staff were welcoming and knowledgeable, and the café was a perfect spot to sit and reflect after wandering through the exhibitions. Whether you’re interested in art, architecture, history, or simply want a uniquely Daylesford experience, this is a must-visit. A standout cultural destination—I couldn’t recommend it more.

Beautiful and tranquil place to get lost in for a few hours! The cafe was lovely as well. Most standout was the service and friendliness by all the staff, and I just want to particularly mention Sharon at the front desk. Her energy was so vibrant and warm, and she spent time talking my family and I through the history of the convent and the visit. Thank you Sharon, you're an absolute star!

This place is absolutely beautiful! The environment is peaceful and relaxing, surrounded by lovely scenery that instantly puts you in a good mood. It’s quiet and spacious, perfect for slowing down and taking a breath from the busy world outside. I was really impressed by how much artistic atmosphere it has — every corner feels thoughtfully designed, with creative details that make the whole experience feel inspiring. You can tell that a lot of care has gone into maintaining the space. Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates art, nature, and tranquility!

Oh my goodness, where do we start?! THANK YOU!!! Our wedding was perfect! Everything was amazing - the service, the food, the atmosphere, the staff, the room, the set up, the flow of the day - all perfection. Thank you thank you thank you for making this the happiest day of our lives. We are so grateful! All our friends and family are saying this was the best wedding they have ever been too!!

Our visit to the Convent Gallery was a memorable one. The building itself is an intriguing contradiction: once a reverent and sacred space, it is now filled with contemporary and garish art. We thoroughly enjoyed Brian Nash’s acrylic landscapes and sketches (my friend absolutely loved his shadow techniques) and the many devotional arts and heirlooms presumably left behind from the glory days of the original convent—though they could have been displayed more prominently and forefront. The highlight of our visit, however, was meeting Sharon of the front desk. Despite the thunderstorm raging outside, her vibrant and delightful personality brightened our visit considerably. Shout out to you, dear Sharon—we hope you had a blessed Christmas.

You must stop by on your way through Dayelsford! Rich in history, Art, and architecture. You have a beautiful panoramic view of the town from the top balcony. Make sure you stop in at the cafe and gift shop! We easily spent a few hours.

I love art galleries, architecture and history and this place combines all of it and more. The historical attributes of the convent enhance the wonderful variety of artwork on display here in nearly every passageway and room. I was so surprised by how much of the place I was able to explore without someone breathing over your shoulder. I loved it.

Beautiful buildings, delicious food in the cafe and stunning artwork in the gallery. Highly recommend

This is such a beautiful place! The building is stunning and the cafe has a fantastic atmosphere. It was a rainy day in Daylesford and this was the perfect place to warm up. I decided to take a risk and go with the roasted mushrooms and leeks. Which then seemed to have a bonus halloumi - that or I didn't read the description properly which seems more likely! As if that wasn't enough I had been having food envy checking out the scones coming out so decided to finish with those. An excellent choice as they were warm and fluffy and oh so delicious!

Remember that movie Sirens where Elle Macpherson 'acted' by spending pretty much all the movie nude? This convent slash art gallery feels like one of the really arty, pretty, regional-Australia places in that film. Came here for a wedding, and the place was good when I was sober, and supermodel stunning when I was less so, which was most of the night and a big chunk of the early morning. The chapel is sweet and intimate, and a door leads straight into the reception area so nobody gets lost, and then there's sprawling, resplendent gardens that wind up to a lookout / makeout spot, and the whole building is riddled with fancy pants artworks, from sculptures to nude paintings to mega-arty things that I couldn't recognise but desired nonetheless. "One art, please!" Don't know anyone getting married? Kick back in the cafe and have a wander and pretend you're in some eccentric millionaire's mansion.

Set atop another hill in Daylesford this spectacular gallery and cafe is a unique little slice of the arty, foody crowd from the region. My Mum and I walked in to find we were the only people dining in for lunch mid-week and we were promptly served by the incredibly friendly waiting staff. Our meals came out as quickly as the service and we shared the baked field mushrooms and a vego pizza. Mushrooms were perfectly seasoned and cooked with baked fetta on top and the individual pizza was done on a thick focaccia type bread and loaded up with plenty of veg. Both perfect and filling winter warmers! After a quick sneak peak of the gallery - via a stop to the toilets (inside the gallery) I fell in love with the diverse collections on offer. We didn't pay to peruse the whole gallery from memory, as we didn't have time, but we were impressed just with the reception area and the glassware, pottery, sculptures and large abstract artwork on the walls. Don't just go for the gallery, you must stop for breakfast, lunch or even dinner in this beautiful old restored building.

Stunning grounds, great artwork and delicious food We held a work roadshow here for 20 guests and would highly recommend for others. The catering was delicious and the staff so friendly and helpful

Is it a Gallery....is it a cafe? Well its both. I went there a few months ago for brunch and after I finished walked around the gallery and gift shop and it was time for afternoon tea. If I was not returning to Melbourne...could have stayed for dinner too! I love this place - has great food, great ambience and its just different!

Love the Convent Gallery. Have been coming here for years. Love the building. Love the gardens. Love the gifts on sale. Came here for a wedding today. What a lovely event it was. It's a great place for a wedding. Nice spots for the ceremony and reception. The staff are a real standout here. Hands down the best I've ever encountered at any wedding venue. I'm one of a number of people who mentioned it. The staff couldn't do enough for you and sometimes anticipated your needs. They are a credit to the supervisor, who herself was excellent, the establishment and the town. Guys, you're superstars.

The grounds are beautiful. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of history or exhibits on the convent history itself. The chapel was dated in a sad way....I expected authentically old and grand...? Not particularly impressed with the art collection either. The gallery shop is large and has an eclectic selection with an adjacent coffee shop. If looking to kill some time it's ok but I wouldn't go out of my way.