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The idea of the Western Australian Pilgrim Trail began in September 2008 after a local group of people had completed the Camino in Spain. In 2009, the first group of 28 walkers initiated the Camino Salvado starting from St Joseph’s in Subiaco and concluding at New Norcia. The trail was inspired by the memory of Dom Rosendo Salvado, the Benedictine monk who founded New Norcia in the nineteenth century. Since that first walk, hundreds of people have experienced the trail in small organized groups, many have been young college students.
The current Pilgrim Trail does not exactly follow in the footsteps of Dom Salvado who walked frequently between New Norcia and Perth, but has had to be moved further west due to development and heavy traffic conditions. It is approximately 190kms walking through the city, parklands, on roads, through national parks, state forest, private property and farm land.
It is important to remember that any Camino is a reflective journey, a ‘way’, a time to reflect, simplify and connect not only with those around you but with nature and your own self.
Travellers on the Camino are encouraged to carry a small symbol or token with them which can be left at the tomb of Dom Salvado when you arrive in New Norcia. 2021 marks the thirteenth year of the St Joseph’s Camino Salvado.