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The Convent Daylesford

7 Daly St, Daylesford VIC 3460, Australia

Recommended by 6 people

Updated

Find The Convent Daylesford

7 Daly St, Daylesford VIC 3460, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5348 3211
HoursMonday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Convent Daylesford

Perched over Daylesford, this restored 19th-century convent combines seven gallery rooms, historic chapel grounds, and hilltop gardens. High ceilings, preserved corridors, and dedicated artist bio walls make exploring the multi-level layout feel effortless and unhurried. Visitors regularly head down to the light-filled atrium of Bad Habits cafe for freshly baked scones, tea, or duck ragu with potato and pumpkin gnocchi.

  • Historic Convent Galleries: Spans multi-level exhibition spaces, historic museum rooms, and a restored chapel overlooking Daylesford.
  • Bad Habits Cafe: Glass-encased atrium serving freshly baked scones, tea, and seasonal savoury plates.
  • Artist-Curated Spaces: Each exhibiting artist features an on-wall biographical profile and direct QR codes.
RestaurantCafe

What's On at The Convent Daylesford

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Key Advantages

Why visitors choose The Convent Daylesford for art, heritage, and dining

  • Expansive Multi-Level Heritage Art Spaces

    Set across multiple levels of a historic 19th-century convent, visitors can explore seven gallery spaces, a restored chapel, and scenic grounds.

    The Convent Daylesford is absolutely worth a visit, there are so many levels to explore, Art galleries are amazing, the Chapel is beautifully restored with stain glass windows, and pews of yesteryear.

    Karen Erickson

  • Unrushed Exploratory Journey

    The extensive layout and rotating exhibits offer an immersive visit that easily spans multiple sessions or an entire afternoon.

    We were buzzing for hours after and I had to go back the following day to capture parts i’d missed. It really is a 2 session experience.

    Bodhi

  • Atrium Cafe and High Tea Dining

    Bad Habits Cafe provides fresh scones, light lunch fare, and high tea in an airy, glass-encased atrium integrated directly within the galleries.

    A splendid spot to spend the end of the day or the morning for some high tea. My mother and I shared the scones, they were phenomenal.

    Fufu

  • Accessible Gallery Admission Value

    Full interior access to the sprawling gallery, chapel, and museum collections is provided for a nominal ten-dollar entry fee.

    A great gallery to visit in Dalesford lots of rooms with different artists work. Only $10 pp to enjoy the artwork.

    A S (Sunshine)

  • Personal Historical Welcomes

    Staff warmly welcome visitors at reception with personal storytelling detailing the building's convent origins and featured works.

    We loved the introduction by the lovely lady at reception who spent time sharing the history of the convent with us and brought the “sugar man” painting to life.

    Michael Chin

  • Contextual Artist Profiles and Guides

    Display walls feature dedicated artist background profiles alongside digital QR codes to delve deeper into creative practices.

    I LOVED the fact that artists had their own page each on the walls with background details and QR codes to find out more.

    Lee

Customer favorites and dining highlights at Bad Habits cafe

  • Scones

    My mother and I shared the scones, they were phenomenal. Truly scrumptious, some of the best scones we’ve ever had! So warm, so fresh, so cozy, and so delicious!

    Fufu

  • High Tea

    this was- by far, the best high tea I have ever had, the scones were perfection, freshly baked, the savory options were delicious, and the macaroons were out of this world. Worth every penny. This high tea deserves an award

    Gillian Gates

  • Potato and pumpkin gnocchi with duck ragu

    Potato and pumpkin gnocchi with duck ragu was superb.

    Stu B

  • Mushroom soup

    We sat down for lunch, food was delicious, especially the mushroom soup.

    Angela Williams

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful personal interactions and curated details that elevate the gallery and dining experience

  • Personal Historical Introductions at Reception

    Front desk team member Sharon provides a vibrant, dedicated introduction to the building's historical convent origins and artworks, taking time to personally guide guests through the venue's story upon entry.

  • Dedicated Artist Bio Pages and QR Codes

    Each exhibiting artist is given a dedicated wall page with comprehensive background biographies and interactive QR codes directly next to their artworks for deeper exploration.

  • Direct Hospitality and Conversations with Owner Tina

    Owner Tina actively walks the floor and welcomes guests, spending time engaging with visitors about art, personal history, and creative projects.

  • Detailed Architectural and History Walkthroughs by Cafe Staff

    Bad Habits cafe staff, including the Maître D' and waiters, offer rich historical walkthroughs of the convent spaces and architectural context alongside tableside menu service.

Before you head over

Essential visitor advice on accessibility, admission fees, and navigating the historic complex

  • Accessibility and Mobility

    The historic multi-level convent features numerous stairways and levels that are not suited for mobility-impaired visitors.

  • Gallery Admission Fee

    Access to the multi-level gallery rooms and museum requires a $10 per person admission fee.

  • Follow the Building Guide

    Take the printed guide provided at entry so you do not miss hidden rooms across the four levels.

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