Mary MacKillop Place Accommodation, Conferences & Events

What Mary MacKillop Place Accommodation, Conferences & Events does

Mary MacKillop Place Accommodation, Conferences & Events is a non-profit Catholic ministry operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart at 7-11 Mount Street, North Sydney, New South Wales. The organisation is built around the Memorial Chapel housing the tomb of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first canonised saint, and the adjacent Mary MacKillop Place Museum (opened 1995), which contains permanent exhibitions across three galleries plus the 1855 Alma Cottage house museum. The site also offers hotel-style and self-contained apartment accommodation (Anderledy and Temuka), conference and venue hire including the Isabel Menton Theatre, an on-site Gift Shop & Café, an e-commerce online shop, organised pilgrimages, and structured educational group programs. The site reports hundreds-of-thousands of pilgrims visiting annually and is positioned within a UNESCO World Heritage listed area adjacent to North Sydney's commercial district.

The business operates across six revenue streams: accommodation services, conference and venue hire, museum admissions (A$15 adults, A$10 concession, A$8 child 5+, family passes from A$25), gift shop and café sales, tax-deductible donations through the Museum Gift Fund and legacy bequest program, and session-based educational group visits (students A$8, accompanying adults A$10, educators free; adult groups of 10+ at A$10 per person). GTM is event-driven, anchored by the annual Feast Day on 8 August, weekly masses, pilgrimage programs, and group bookings for schools, parishes and corporate clients. Marketing runs through the organisation's website, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn channels, a segmented email newsletter, the What's On events calendar, and a commercial filming service. Distribution combines on-site visits, online bookings, a global livestream channel for major events, and a packaged national pilgrimage operated in partnership with Harvest Journeys. No proprietary technology systems or AI capabilities are disclosed; the technology stack is a standard WordPress website with an e-commerce storefront and the eHive digital collection platform.

Name

Mary MacKillop Place Accommodation, Conferences & Events

Legal name

The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph

Website

https://marymackillopplace.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mary MacKillop Place is a non-profit Catholic pilgrimage, museum, accommodation and conference destination in North Sydney, operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, serving pilgrims, school groups, adult groups, and corporate conference clients around the tomb of Australia's first canonised saint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Heritage Hospitality Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums (712110), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAL

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYTHAKAHAH

Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Religious & Pilgrimage Travel Agencies

SECONDARYTHAJAAAF

Religious & Sacred Sites Tours

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Guided Tours (City, Cultural & Historical)

SECONDARYHSACALAJ

Venue & Facility Reservations (Private Rooms, Event Spaces)

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Ticketing & Reservations Services

Keywords

• Religious pilgrimage services
• Conference venue hire
• Heritage museum operations
• Hospitality accommodation services
• Nonprofit ministry services

Headquarters

HQ city

North Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Accommodation Services: On-site accommodation ranging from hotel-style rooms to self-contained apartments (Anderledy and Temuka Apartments) with continental buffet breakfast and parking options.
2. Conference and Venue Hire: Conference facilities, meeting rooms, and event venues available for hire including the Isabel Menton Theatre and various meeting spaces.
3. Museum Admission: Daily museum admission fees: Adults $15, Concession $10, Children (5+) $8, Families from $25-$35. Free entry for children 4 and under, Museums Australia/ICM members.
4. Gift Shop and Café: On-site retail operations including gift shop with religious items, Mary MacKillop memorabilia, Indigenous products, books and cards, as well as café services.
5. Donations and Support: Tax-deductible donations through Museum Gift Fund, general donations, leave-a-legacy bequest program, and volunteer support.
6. Educational Group Programs: Structured educational visits for schools with session-based pricing: Students $8, Accompanying adults $10, Educators free. Adult groups $10 per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mary MacKillop Place is a spiritual and cultural destination in North Sydney that provides on-site accommodation, conference and event venue hire, a heritage museum, chapel and tomb pilgrimage services, and an on-site gift shop and café. It also operates an online retail shop and delivers educational group programs for schools and adult groups, together with organised pilgrimage tours. The site is operated as a ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

Product overview

Mary MacKillop Place is a multi-service spiritual and cultural destination offering accommodation, venue hire, museum visits, chapel services, and a gift shop & café. The facility operates as a unified portfolio of services centred around the legacy of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first canonised saint. Core offerings include hotel-style and apartment accommodation at Anderledy and Temuka, versatile conference and event venues, the Mary MacKillop Place Museum with permanent exhibitions across three galleries plus Alma Cottage, the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel with pilgrimage services, and an on-site Gift Shop & Café. Additional services include The Oasis well-being initiative, organised pilgrimages, educational programs for student and adult groups, annual Feast Day celebrations, an online retail shop, volunteering opportunities, and a Museum Gift Fund for donations. The organization is operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accommodation On-site hotel-style ensuited rooms and self-contained one and two-bedroom apartments at Anderledy and Temuka, including continental buffet breakfast, wheelchair-accessible options, and parking. Serves pilgrims, conference attendees, and visitors.
• Venue Hire and Conference Facilities Versatile meeting spaces and conference venues for hire, including the Isabel Menton Theatre and multiple meeting rooms equipped with modern audio-visual technology. Targets corporate, association, and institutional clients for meetings, retreats, and events.
• Mary MacKillop Place Museum Permanent museum exhibitions across three galleries plus the Alma Cottage house museum, showcasing the life and legacy of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods. Open to general visitors, school groups, and adult groups.
• Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel Sacred chapel housing the tomb of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, with capacity for 280 guests. Available for regular Masses, pilgrim visits, and private bookings including baptisms, weddings, and prayer events.
• Gift Shop and Café Combined retail operation offering Mary MacKillop and sacramental gifts, ethically sourced Indigenous products, books, cards, candles, and children's gifts, alongside café service providing meals, coffee, and refreshments with indoor and outdoor seating.
• Online Shop E-commerce platform at shop.marymackillopplace.org.au selling books, religious items, candles, Indigenous collection products, children's gifts, and Mary MacKillop memorabilia.
• Pilgrimages Organised multi-day pilgrimage programs including the annual 'In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop' 12-day national pilgrimage from East Melbourne, Victoria to North Sydney, visiting sites associated with Mary MacKillop's life and ministry. Travel arranged in partnership with Harvest Journeys.
• Educational Group Visits Tailored educational visits for student groups from primary to university level, with 90-minute education programs aligned to Religious Education and History curricula. Includes session times and structured learning content.
• Adult Group Visits

Quantifiable outcome

• Welcomes hundreds-of-thousands of pilgrims annually

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Harvest JourneyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Harvest Journeys manages travel arrangements for the annual 'In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop' National Pilgrimage, a 12-day journey prepared by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The pilgrimage travels from East Melbourne, Victoria to Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, visiting sites associated with Mary MacKillop's life and ministry across Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. Pilgrimage cost from $5237 (all inclusive land & air) with $1560 single room supplement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sydney Living Museums: NSW government body operating a portfolio of Sydney heritage houses and museums (e.g. Hyde Park Barracks, Susannah Place, Elizabeth Bay House) with comparable multi-revenue models — ticketed museums, venue hire, retail, café, and education programs in heritage-listed buildings.
• St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne: Major Catholic heritage site offering regular Mass, pilgrimages, venue hire for events and concerts, guided tours, retail, and education — comparable Australian Catholic pilgrimage and heritage destination with overlapping mission.
• Old Melbourne Gaol: Heritage tourism site offering guided tours, museum exhibits, evening experiences, school education programs, retail, and event hire — comparable in combining a heritage narrative with bundled paid experiences in a single historic precinct.
• National Trust of Australia (NSW): Operates a portfolio of heritage houses and sites across NSW with ticketed museum admissions, education programs, venue hire, retail, and membership — comparable in mission (heritage preservation with earned revenue) and in operating scale and property mix.
• Port Arthur Historic Site: Tasmanian heritage tourism destination with museum exhibitions, guided tours, accommodation, food and beverage, retail, and school programs operating from a heritage-listed precinct — analogous destination model with multi-revenue streams.
• Sydney Jewish Museum: Sydney museum operated by a faith/community organization, with permanent exhibitions, school education programs, guided tours, retail, and event hire — directly comparable as a religious-community museum with a similar multi-stream revenue mix.
• Sovereign Hill Museums Association: Major Australian heritage tourism destination in Ballarat combining open-air museum, accommodation, hospitality, retail, and school programs — a similar destination model built around a singular historical narrative with bundled visitor experiences.
• The Rocks Discovery Museum: Free/entry-based heritage museum in Sydney's historic Rocks precinct, presenting local history with education programs and adjacent heritage retail — comparable Sydney heritage museum with education and visitor-services revenue model.
• Shrine of Remembrance (Melbourne): Major memorial/heritage site with daily visitor programs, education offerings, retail, ceremonies and commemorations, and venue hire — directly comparable in operating a sacred/heritage precinct with education and venue revenue streams.

Others

• Harvest Journeys: Australian pilgrimage tour operator that partners with Mary MacKillop Place to run the annual 'In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop' national pilgrimage — comparable as a faith-based group travel organizer despite not being a heritage site itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/MaryMacKillopPlace
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaryMacKillopPlace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mary-mackillop-place
• Instagraminstagram.com/marymackillopplace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mary MacKillop Place Accommodation, Conferences & Events