Local – Page 22 – Willow Court Tasmania

1863 Drawings

September 28, 2015 No Comments

This map was held at the National Archives in the United Kingdom and was sent to us by one of Associate Professor Burke’s PhD Students who recently spent a couple of days searching for Willow Court documentation. It is a rare image that shows the male and female divisions and where the foundations would be for any future dig site. The original Matron’s Quarters appears to be located near to, or over the currently privately owned Morgue and Antiques store. The foundations to the Gentleman’s cottage (top left) are still visible in the C Ward yard. You can click on the image to make it larger.

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Opening soon?

September 20, 2015 No Comments

Well it’s hard to say, but the site is again taking on a Spring look, with green grass and lots of newly installed landscaping. The temporary fences at the very front have been removed and the ramps appear to be complete and a small area at the front gates has been created for people wishing to take photos (pictured below).

Sources for the Derwent Valley Council have reported that there will be an opening celebration followed by a closing of the gates (no date announced yet). The Community House is due to move into the Bronte Ward for the next nine years and the site remains on the market, either for lease or sale.

The Friends of Willow Court are seeking a meeting with the General Manager of the DVC to attempt to find out what their role will be as a committee of the DVC and where they fit into this DVC owned site and gain an understanding of the plans the Council have for the time in between the opening and the sale or lease.

The condition at the last tour of the remaining building is of concern, in Carlton House (C Ward) the unbreakable windows all have been smashed with what would appear to be a hammer or similar. We are hoping that the installed security will soon bring the vandals to justice.

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Social Trainers code of ethics

September 10, 2015 No Comments

Well here is a blast from the past. While Willow Court was still operating a new industry was emerging and it was the community integration model. Many people did, what was then known as a Social Trainer course at TAFE. This consisted of two years of full time study within the disability support field with particular attention to the Community Integration Program (CLP) which was the social model. Out of this come the Social Trainers Association. This group of people started a community of practicing professionals and like other groups, looked towards continuous improvement along with education. They also come up with a code of ethics by which any professional Social Trainer would abide. Here is a copy of that, now historic document, for some this will bring back memories and for others it’s a bit of history of how we got to where we are today.

Social Trainers

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Landmark Willow Court Report supplied to Friends of Willow Court

August 31, 2015 No Comments

This new report was given to members of the Friends of Willow Court during an oral history gathering session.

The ex-staff member offered the report so it could be digitised and used for future education.

The Report refers to new ideas and experiments that were allowed by Senior Staff to have a better service for people who lived at Willow Court (Lachlan Park Hospital). The exact date of this report is unclear, but it would appear that it was pre 1965 because “Lachlan Park” is used. The names of the male “patients” involved were also included and are helpful in dating the document. The subject matter is about, new methods of treatment in a social, small setting with skill development of life skills. The report looks at the hypothesis of people with disabilities being able to receive and respond to training and skill development. The timeline for this report becomes critical here, because within Tasmania this could be one of the first, if not the first formal training programmes for the development of living skills of the seven young boys that it refers to. It was a handwritten document of 5, A3 pages. During the early 1960’s, skill development in life skills in a block treatment system was not only difficult, but considered quite impossible and in some cases fruitless. As soon as I receive permission to reprint I will load the document up for public availability when approved by the FoWC.

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$9 lease of Bronte on agenda

August 21, 2015 No Comments

The Derwent Valley Council will raise $9 over 9 years for the lease of the old and refurbished Bronte Ward in the Willow Court Heritage Precinct according to the new agenda item on the Council’s own website. It is common practice to have a “peppercorn” rent for community services, so this is not unusual. However this will tie up the business capacity of the location for that 9 years to any prospective lessee that the Council hope to attract with their current plans to seek out an International Tourist Operator (or favourable business) to run and operate the site. How this joint lease arrangement and the impact on each party will be affected has not been explored with any type of impact study to date.

Discussion On 16 April 2015, Council considered a proposition for the DVCH to lease a portion of the Bronte Building located at Willow Court. In accord with the Councils direction, discussions and negotiations have continued between Council representatives and DVCH Inc. The proposed Lease Agreement is presented to the Council for confirmation prior to the property being formally offered to DVCH Inc. The lease provides for:

 Annual rental of $1

 Nine year lease term

 Lessee responsible for utility costs such as electricity, water etc.

 Standard conditions associated with maintaining the premises in good order with fair wear and tear accepted, indemnification of liability, and the processes to be followed in the event that the building is substantially damaged through fire, floor or tempest

 Processes if failure by the lessee to observe any of the covenants or conditions The lease is not for the sole occupation of the entire Bronte Building; as is indicated on the diagrams attached to the lease the area known as the dormitory will remain with the Council, together with the area known as the caretakers apartment and adjacent Plant Room. Provision is included within the lease for non exclusive possession of the dining room and kitchen area.

This provision has been incorporated given the unknown future uses of the Derwent Valley Council Agenda – 20 August 2015 Page 58 dormitory area and the need to utilise the dining room and kitchen facilities and the like potentially in the circumstance. During the ongoing discussions the representative the opportunity for utilisation of portions of the external areas to the Bronte Building to be utilised by DVCH Inc. It was considered reasonable to incorporate the use of these areas into the lease Agreement on the basis that DVCH Inc would be prepared to undertake maintenance. The areas are again indicated within the Lease Agreement diagrams.

A further issue that has arisen has been a suggestion by the DVCH Inc that Council make a contribution towards a security system for that portion contained within the dining and kitchen areas. This has not been incorporated into the lease is proposed that it would be more appropriate for quotations to be sought by DVCH Inc for the entire building. The Council could then consider a proposal for a cost sharing arrangement once the likely costs are known. Further, in the event the shared space of the dining room and kitchen comes to fruition, and then it is proposed that a booking system be overseen by DVCH Inc and that costs of cleaning be negotiated closer to that time.

It is understood that the occupation of portion of the Bronte Building stems from the desire to provide some degree of activity and utilisation of the Willow Court areas owned by the Council. Given the Councils intention to also call for Expressions of Interest into the future use of those areas owned by the Council, there is a degree of risk in offering the lease proposed as it may compromise the extent of interest. It is acknowledged, however, that given the degree of uncertainty the expression of interest process may reveal, and likely timelines in the event there are any firm proposals, this arrangement provides a degree of certainty in the immediate term.

It is therefore recommended that the Council offer the Lease of a portion of the Bronte Building to the DVCH Inc for a term of nine years with a annual lease rental of $1.

Consultations That Have Taken Place

(a) The Community Not applicable

(b) Experts Councils Legal representative

(c) Stakeholders Derwent Valley Community House Inc Representatives Proposed Community Consultation, Public Relations and Media Issues Upon formal acceptance of the lease by DVCH Inc, it is proposed that appropriate media release be issued and advertising take place. Derwent Valley Council Agenda – 20 August 2015 Page 59 Budget/Financial Issues The properties owned by the Council in the Willow Court Complex represent a late and significant investment. Maintaining the structural integrity of the buildings will potentially escalate over time. The leasing of a portion of the Bronte building will allow for outgoings and some minor maintenance to be incurred by the lessee. The lessee has also access to grant funds which may enable some additional restoration works to be undertaken. Policy Implications There are no significant policy implications associated with this particular lease arrangement.

It is noted however that a former resolution of the Council associated with embargoing rate payer funds whilst not a policy position, it will need to be addressed by the Council into the future.

Recommendation It is therefore recommended that the Council offer the Lease of a portion of the Bronte Building to the DVCH for a term of nine years with a annual lease rental of $1 under the terms and conditions contained in the lease enclosed.

P.S.

Councillor Bester wants best for Bronte if you consider his post on his Bog Site. He is not happy with the shared use of the building, especially with the previous plans as a tourist attraction and also now the Community House. While we have had these concerns for some time we are yet to hear from any Councillor who voted in favour of the multi use of the building. The 9 year lease will severely affect the likelihood of anyone or an organisation taking on the management and investment in the historic precinct as suggested by the Derwent Valley Council.

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Spirits at Willow Court

August 16, 2015 1 Comment

Kick start Arts Tasmania are completely aware of the building that they occupy and have sympathetically and culturally tackled the history. For those that believe in any remaining spirit activity within this old Hobart Orphanage can read about how this has been addressed.

At a healing ceremony, elder Jim Everett led a procession of fire sticks and garlands through the building.

“We needed to refresh the place, to say the spirits are not here, and the children’s spirits who were here can feel safe,” he said.

“We open up a new future for the diversity of cultures in Tasmania, and the collaborations that will come from it.”

Click here for full story or image above.

In complete contrast on the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance Facebook Group a member responded to a question about Paranormal Tours within the old institution and any funds being returned for the upkeep and restoration of this historic place, that once housed people with intellectual disabilities.

“Yes, unless it’s just some kids trying to get beer money. The whole idea of running a “paranormal investigation” tour is not only exploitative, selfish, and a condition of emotional constipation, it’s completely juvenile. I’m not saying the belief in ghosts is juvenile, but to profit off of tragedy by twisting it into a more Hollywood version is wrong no matter what way you look at it. Rather than viewing the buildings with any sort of empathetic and meditative thought process that one would hopefully gain while looking at, say, a war memorial, people seem to have chosen a route that requires a much more shallow thought process when it comes to places like Pennhurst.”

Pennhurst haunted tours website

Both views are vastly different from each other but the contrast poses a question for Willow Court and how can this history be culturally and respectfully dealt with and how can healing begin? It has long been thought about and there has been suggestions from Committee’s, families and Advocates. Some of those suggestions have included memorial gardens and places of peace and sculptures which tell the complex story of Willow Court’s mixed and diverse history.

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New Document Released

July 25, 2015 No Comments

New Norfolk Asylum, Historical Background. Report to Austral Archaeology June 1996, by Dr Warrick Pearson has now been uploaded for public viewing. This Report is a detailed archaeological document of the whole site, containing many facts, figures, photos and data about Willow Court from 1827. The documents also covers the underground assets from the Barracks in the 1880’s including the barrel drain. All manner of documents surveys and plans have been gathered to form this definitive document. Release for the first time for public viewing this will keep the Willow Court historian busy for some time. The document is well referenced, however the scan is a little faint on some pages.

In the first section the author talks about a letter dated 1828 in which Dr Officer complains about the”dilapidated state” of the buildings, which suggest that the state of the building would indicate that the structure that predated the Barracks was old and unkept for some time. The author suggests that the early 1820’s is most likely a time frame. The location of the wooden structure is not clearly known and there is hope that this location would be found by the Archeology team that will be working at the site for the next ten years, plus.

Click on the picture to take you to the document, enjoy.

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Lachlan Park Memorabilia sold today

July 10, 2015 No Comments

Today I attempted to buy two Lachlan Park Fire Helmets at an auction so they could be placed in the Hospital’s Historical Inventory. After discussing the top price that could be paid with the Chair of the Friends of Willow Court I placed a number of bids, only to be outbid. The items dated back to pre 1965 when The Lachlan Park Hospital changed it’s name to the Royal Derwent Hospital and would have been a good inclusion to the historical items that are logged and ready for display. They would have gone nicely with the original fire cart which is in the inventory.

The Collection of historical items was recorded on a number of inventories which are being upgraded by students working with Associate Professor Heather Burke from Flinders University. A lone copy of the 1996 inventory was found and saved to a digital copy a couple of months ago. It will be very interesting to see if all the 1996 items still appear on the latest inventory. It is believed that some of the precious items have disappeared over time. The current Derwent Valley Council appear to have stopped this flow of historic items disappearing, which is good to hear.

Rebecca Tudor from the Friends of Willow Court stated at a recent meeting that she is concerned for the state of the items and how they are stored. She is also hopeful that these items could be cataloged similar to those at her workplace, at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The condition the provenance and other available information about the item should be stored with the item so when it is taken from storage to display, it will carry all the essential information with it. This is a better way to ensure that items on display are time and subject related to the actual display they are going to appear in.

The Helmets sold for $150,00 plus a buyers premium of 15%

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Metal fabricated ramps in place.

July 6, 2015 No Comments

The long awaited metal fabricated ramps are now in place at Willow Court, these buildings will, for the first time have mobility access. The placement for the ramp in the Barracks has been done so it doesn’t affect the Heritage building. Also the front gate now has it’s backing metal plate fixed. This is a see through black plate which took me a while to notice as I was looking at the buildings behind. The site was rumored to be handed over to the Derwent Valley Council at the end of June, but no comment has been made from the Council and in the light of no restoration of the landscaping and the ramps still some way off completion we can only assume that the work still goes on. It was reported that no late clauses were in the contract that would normally penalise the contractor for being over the estimated finish time which is a standard part of most contracts now days.

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A piece of history “For Sale”

July 5, 2015 No Comments

A piece of history has come up for sale on, of all things, Gumtree. The old ward at Willow Court is owned by the Pierce family who own a number of buildings in the private section at the old hospital. Available for the grant price of $875,000 it is described as: Georgian masterpiece with 46 rooms built as a prison for the criminally insane females. Situated in the oldest colonial hospital complex in the southern hemisphere at New Norfolk on the Derwent River 30 minutes from Hobart g.p.o.zoned special development ,which would allow commercial or residential development. The surrounding heritage buildings have already been developed into Antique shops ,Coffee shops, Motel, Retirement apartments etc. 50 metres from Woolworths and 150 metres to Town Centre.

Gumtree advertisement.

What isn’t mentioned in the advertisement is the land size, if any and what access is available to the property for sale. These things have become very important for other property owners in the same area and have previously lead to disputes between parties in that area.

The Ladies Cottage was separated physically from the barracks building complex and had the wall and a fence around it. It also had a ha ha in front of it so that patients could use the garden and could look out to the landscape but also be secure. James Kerr explains that:

“The ha ha was device popular in eighteenth Century English country estates which provided a barrier to stock but did not interrupt – an important aspect of landscape planning at the time. It was achieved by the simple expedient of sinking a wall out of sight in a trench and was supposed to have been named after the surprised ejaculation forced upon a visitor’s lips on discovering that the seeming continuity of sward was a deception. It became an important element in the design of airing yards for Australian asylums from the 1860s on to the early twentieth century. It enabled the patients to relate to the carefully landscaped surroundings and to whatever views were available.” (Kerr p158)

The emphasis on providing pleasant grounds was an aspect of therapy in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. There was a belief in the power of nature “to recruit the flagging spirit” says Kerr 5. Not only were the gardens carefully laid out but they were populated with fauna including alpaca, deer, kangaroos and emus like those seen in the above photo of the Ladies Cottage at New Norfolk.

In 1903 a second storey was added to the building providing a further 25 beds, In 1908 the violent and noisy patients from the Ladies Cottage were accommodated in the newly closed in verandah section of the Female Refractory Division.

Extract from the Willow Court Conservation Management Plan. Nelson, Barwick, Slatyer and Loveday 2003

What has happened to the planning for the Ladies Cottage spotted in August last year is now unknown