* 1839 convict-built sandstone Catholic Church renovated and converted into unique and beautiful accommodation. * Five bedrooms, four with ensuite * Lounge room with large TV and Gas Fireplace * Deck and plunge pool * Onsite, lunch time weddings/events permitted on request (pls send an enquiry) * Fire pit * Pet Friendly * Amazing satellite NBN Wi-Fi
Hi there, thanks for visiting St Joseph's Guesthouse on Stayz.
You'll find our beautiful property in St Albans, just two hours from Sydney and Newcastle. The church features accommodation for 10 guests onsite in five separate bedrooms - four with ensuites and one with an in-room clawfoot bath. There's also a large kitchen, dining area, lounge room with television and gas fireplace, big deck and a plunge pool for warm summer days, with plenty of lawn area for activities and even weddings.
Our property is an 1839 convict-built sandstone Catholic Church, which was purchased in 2009 and restored by myself, Steve, over three years. We've lovingly restored the church over the years from the crumbling, uninhabitable state it was in when we acquired it. Nothing brings us more joy than sharing this beautiful part of the world with guests - old and new.
While staying true to the original aesthetic, we pieced it back together and made some changes along the way. See that steel steeple on the church? And the gap beneath it? That’s our rooftop lounge area, complete with fire pit for you to toast marshmallows in comfort. Plus, we’re pretty confident it’s the best old church to witness a sunset from, this side of Europe.
PET FRIENDLY 🐕 WORK FROM HOME AT THE CHURCH. We have amazing satellite NBN Wi-Fi
Wedding packages and pricing (*includes venue hire please ask on enquiry.):
Lunchtime weddings for 60 guests are our specialty as the curfew is 9:30pm.
It's a BYO property which means there's full flexibility to create your own day in a way that feels personal to you.
Our team can also help organise local transport for your guests, an Aboriginal smoking ceremony, a celebrant, catering, party hire and everything else you can possibly think of. Just touch base with us for a chat.
In St Albans Village, we have a pub and free camping available on the Macdonald River just across the road if you have additional people staying during the week or on the weekend.
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Then yoga for everyone at the school of arts building St Albans at 8am.$15 The community tennis courts are available upon request. Just ask at the pub. Amazing convict walking tracks throughout the valley.
AWARDS: 2013 National Trust Award for Best Restored Heritage Building NSW.
We hope to welcome you at St Joseph's Guesthouse soon. Looking forward to chatting Regards Steve.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
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This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
Property registration number PID-STRA-27040
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property
Frequently asked questions
Does St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED?
As of 31 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED on 9 Jun 2026 start from £830, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is St Albans St Joseph's Guest House PETS WELCOMED located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Cobham Hall Museum, Ferry Artists and Village Green. Hawkesbury River and Hawkins Lookout are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
So glad to hear you had a great time at the church it really is a lovely old building to just relax with friends and enjoy yourselves and each other‘s company see you back again sometime down the track regards Steve
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Interesting to read the history of the church being convict built in 1839, burnt down in 1888 and rebuilt by the new owner some 101 years later. Now an amazing venue and holiday stay.
Pat A.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Sept 2022
Glad you had such a great time Pat the church is an amazing place to just chill out and relax.
Look forward to seeing you back again soon.
If you’ve got anyone who needs to have a wedding or a big function we can do weddings or parties at the church as well.
All he best.
Regards Steve 0418293732.
Wow! This property is beautiful and so unique.
It’s such a stunning location. Absolutely perfect for a weekend away. I’ve never seen a more well set up kitchen too! Perfect for cooking big lunches/dinners!
Laken G.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2022
Thanks guys for coming really glad to hear you had a great time.
St Joseph’s is perfect for big get together of up to 100 guests for a wedding or as little as 10 guests for the weekend it’s so versatile and so unique look forward to catching up again soon regards Steve
This amazingly renovated church is like no other place you will stay. It has everything and more
The bedrooms are all great sizes with en suites and amazing views with natural daylight coming in through every windows lighting up the inside
The pool was the cherry on the cake, it really made the stay perfect having the pool walking distance but it also felt like you was somewhere else with the view from that area
My friends and I cannot wait to stay here again, we loved it and Steve the host is really nice and responded quickly to any text queries
Aimee G.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jan 2023
I’m so glad you guys had such a great time look forward to seeing you back again soon
We also do weddings at the church regards Steve
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Monika D.
7 Jan 2019
Breathtaking property!
Staying in St Joseph’s guest house was an experience in itself. It’s an absolutely stunning property with plenty of living spaces, well equipped kitchen and refreshing swimming pool. The bedrooms were clean and beds were super comfortable with good quality linen. Each bedroom has on suite which made it easy for our group of 10. The house is located in a very quiet area, away from the road and any noises, which makes it a perfect hide away location for getting away from the city and busy lifestyle. We had no phone reception and no internet, which was a perfect for getting lost in a book or enjoying hours of dinning with a group of friends. The grounds are well kept and our Labrador loved running in and out and around of the house. The owner was communicative even on Christmas Day.
I recommend St Joseph’ guest house for those who want to get away from the busyness of everyday life and spend quality time enjoying company of friends and family.
Monika D.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Mar 2020
Thanks Monika for your review we aim to please all our guests.
Even though it was hot I’m sure the pool and the air conditioners helped your stay to be as enjoyable as it sounds.
Hopefully next time see you down at the Settlers Arms Inn where there is a band playing on Sundays where your Labrador is welcome there on a lead.
There are chooks and peacocks to admire and a tractor for the kids to play on.
Hope to see you again soon.
Regards Steve.
Fabulous property, Steve very relaxed and easy to communicate with.
Linzi N.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jan 2022
Glad you had such a great time at the church don’t forget to tell your friends we also do amazing Weddings at the church with a beautiful reception down at the 1836 Settlers arms in At St Albans but it perfect combination of two amazing buildings
Sorry the projector was not working it’s one of those things they blow the globe every 5 or so years.
Happy for you to come and stay 1 night midweek for free.
We now have a 75inch TV replacement.
Catch up soon.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Tony H.
9 Jan 2019
Fantastic, comfortable, everything provided for maximum comfort and enjoyment.
We stayed for an end of year staff party/get together and we were blown away by the beauty and uniqueness of the place. It was a huge property with so many nooks, crannies and relics to explore. Everything was neat and readily available and our host was welcoming and helpful. We would stay again in a heartbeat!
Tony H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019
Archival
4/10 Poor
Camilla D.
31 Jan 2017
Unorganised and dirty
We booked the guesthouse for our wedding. Upon arrival we discovered the house was very dirty, kitchen equipment was greasy and very unhygienic, several light bulbs not working. We contacted the owner to let him now it needed to be properly cleaned for our wedding. The owner promised to send a cleaner who never arrived and we had to clean the entire house ourselves. Very disappointing and such a shame the management is poor as it is a beautiful place.
Camilla D.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Louise M.
27 Jul 2015
Excellent property
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this venue and was an optimum place for our wedding celebrations.
Louise M.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Trent J.
20 Apr 2015
Majestic
The photographs should speak for themselves, but this place lives up to the expectation. The spaces are vast and well appointed and the location is beautiful. You will not be disappointed.
Trent J.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Cheree H.
16 Mar 2015
Absolutely Amazing
Our stay at St Joseph's Guest House was an absolute pleasure. The church has everything you could think of for a relaxing and elegant 5 star getaway. We enjoyed all this property has to offer. The kitchen is wonderful to entertain in, hosting all the mod cons. We enjoyed sitting out on the private back deck, overlooking the grounds and pool. We really enjoyed looking around the property that holds a lot of history for the area.
Steve the owner is an amazing host and has done an outstanding job on bringing back to life this grand old building. I would totally recommend to grab a few friends and book out the entire place for a weekend or even longer.
Thank you from all the girls, we really enjoyed our weekend getaway.
Cheree H.
About the host
Hosted by Steve Kavanagh
Hey there, I’m Steve.
I bought this unique property in 2009 when the church was roofless and full of trees growing inside. We fixed this place up with a helping hand from friends, family and a bunch of talented tradesmen. After three years of building, we completed the marathon rebirth of this once-grand building, with a few additional touches.
Our achievements were recognized in 2013 when we won the National Trust Best-Restored Heritage Building in NSW, an award we’re very proud of and are now so happy to be hosting weddings at our beautiful church.
This is also the perfect spot for a weekend away for a group of 10 people! Relax in lounge areas or by the pool.
Why they chose this property
We're confident this is one of the most unique buildings you’ll ever stay in. It is the largest sandstone structure built outside the Sydney basin in the 1830s and the oldest Catholic Church on mainland Australia.
What makes this property unique
The church and its surrounding district of Wisemans Ferry and St Albans are very historic to early settlement. The church also offers a lot of of privacy as it is set on 5 acres of grass and bushland. Yet it is only 2 hours from the CBD of Sydney and Newcastle.