About Us
A rural oasis on the edge of Sydney
The Discalced Carmelite Friars moved to Varroville in 1965 to establish a novitiate for trainee priests, to get them in touch with the land. At that time, Varroville was very much in the country. Since then, the 300 acres has been surrounded by suburbs – a rural oasis on the edge of Sydney.
The Friars used the retreat centre as a place of residence and a retreat centre until 2012, when it was completely renovated and refurbished. The Friars also built their own priory on site, which they remain in to this day.
In 2019, the Carmelite Friars entered into a unique collaboration with YMT Australia who now proudly manage and operate the Retreat Centre.
Our Mission and Values
Mt Carmel Retreat Centre is a Christian centre at heart, with a focus on providing our guests with opportunities to encounter Christ. As a retreat centre, we are dedicated to providing the facilities and the space to create the ideal environment for you and your group. Our aim is to ensure that every aspect of our service enables you to get the most out of your time here. We are committed to establishing great relationships by consistently acting with integrity, delivering a professional service and ensuring a meaningful conference experience.
Our Staff would like to welcome you to Mt Carmel Retreat Centre
Steve Toohey
Managing Director
Steve served in the role of YMT National Director for 28 years when, in 2021, he stepped down from the mission-dimension of his role to focus full-time on developing retreat venues. Steve is driven by a deep appreciation for the role that retreats can play in providing the context for life-changing encounters, especially for young people, and he’s passionate about developing venues that provide an outstanding retreat experience.
John Ransom
Centre Manager
John Ransom has been managing Mt Carmel Retreat Centre since 2013. Prior to moving up to Varroville to manage the Centre, John and his family lived in Bega on the NSW South Coast where he worked as a primary school teacher for 10 years. He has also been involved in the former St Joseph’s House of Prayer in Goulburn. John lives onsite at Mt Carmel with his wife and two children. When he’s not managing the Centre, John enjoys spending time with his wife and children, playing the piano accordion and cheering on the Sydney Swans with his daughter, Emma.
Emily Crossland
Site Manager Carmel House
About Youth Mission Team Australia (YMT)
YMT provides young people with a dynamic and relevant encounter with the Gospel, empowering them to make positive life choices.
YMT Australia is a national, Catholic youth organisation that has been operating throughout Australia for almost 40 years. YMT currently has teams based in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne ministering to approximately 18,000 students every year. Each team is comprised of young men and women who defer career or tertiary studies for 12 months to volunteer full-time.
The primary focus of YMT’s ministry is facilitating retreat and reflection day programs in high schools. YMT also run a range of follow up opportunities including youth groups, school holiday camps, conference days and seminars.
YMT operated The Venue Conference Centre in Bellambi for 15 years, from 2005 – 2019. Over this time The Venue hosted hundreds of school, church and community groups, building ongoing relationships with many that we hope will continue into this new venture at Mt Carmel.