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Roses from the Heart’ memorial bonnet tributes

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‘Roses from the Heart’ memorial bonnet tributes will be on display this coming weekend, 28/29th November 2020 at Willow Court, New Norfolk. 

Dr Christina Henri conceived the ‘Roses from the Heart’ project in 2003. Her memorial has expanded to include a number of art forms and is now recognised as a global public art phenomenon with the ‘bonnet’ symbolism a metaphor for convict women and their children.

‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute created by Kate Powell remembering the life of Ann Tully who died at the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk, 13.01.1868.
Kate has been attending Dr Henri’s ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet making sessions at Glen Derwent Tea Rooms and Accommodation, New Norfolk over the past few weeks.

Dr Henri’s memorials include remembering 25,566 convict women and their children transported to Australia and also the thousands of Orphan Girls who were given assisted passage to Australia.

‘The Friends of Willow Court’ have invited Dr Henri to exhibit symbolic bonnets this coming weekend at Willow Court, showcasing the lives of convict women with an association to the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk.

To date Dr Henri’s aware of 242 female convicts associated with the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk. 235 of these female convicts have been sourced from the ‘Founders and Survivors Convict’ data base. 

The artist’s aim regarding the Asylum 

Hospital, New Norfolk is to have bonnet tributes providing visual recognition of female convicts who either worked within the system as assigned servants or who spent time there as in-patients.

Currently Dr Henri has information of 85 deaths of female convict in-patients.

Jane Griffin working on her ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute remembering the life of a convict lass who died at the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk.
Thanks to the support of hosts, Liz and Rob Virtue, Dr Henri has been holding weekly bonnet making sessions at Glen Derwent Tea Rooms and Accommodation, New Norfolk.

Jane’s symbolic bonnet will be on display amongst a collection of ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tributes highlighting convict women with an association to the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk.

Over the past few months Dr Henri has been holding weekly ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet making sessions at Glen Derwent Tea Rooms & Accommodation, New Norfolk. These free events, hosted by Liz and Rob Virtue, have provided a pleasant ambience for the collective stitching and embellishing of bonnets. 

There has been a delightful camaraderie amongst the attendees and beautiful bonnet tributes have been created. There has been a real sense of community with people donating fabric, doillies, thread, buttons, ribbon and lace to the project.

Those with sewing prowess have willingly shared their knowledge and people with limited sewing skills are producing bonnet triumphs.

The ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet exhibition on 28/29th November will showcase symbolic bonnets remembering around a third of the female convicts connected to the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk. 

Chris Bush, local teacher at New Norfolk High School is generously assisting Dr Henri by creating wooden stands for effective displaying of the bonnets. The stand concept is taken from a Quaker bonnet stand, circa 1800s. Students in Waterford have used this design to build supports for ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute displays in Ireland.

Dr Henri will be available to chat about her art memorials with interested visitors to the event at Willow Court. Her ‘Roses from the Heart’ art values the lives of every female convict to Australia whether the female convict ancestor has a relationship with the Willow Court site or not.

The symbolic bonnets on display on 28/29th November are tangible reminders of the lives of the women being remembered. 

Thanks to Liz and Rob Virtue’s support, Dr Henri will continue to hold ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet making workshops at Glen Derwent, New Norfolk in 2021. Creation of symbolic bonnets will continue.

Dr Henri is happy to be working with the Derwent Valley Council on 28/29th November to mark the twentieth anniversary of the closure of Willow Court.

Tasmanian artist Dr Christina Henri wearing a ‘Roses from the Heart’ bonnet tribute remembering the life of Ellen Wood who died on 28 October 1840 at the Asylum Hospital, New Norfolk.

Dr Christina Henri
Cjhenri@gmail.com

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Stories from the Asylum

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The Friends of Willow Court Special Committee are holding a two day event in and around the Barracks Building on 28 & 29 November to acknowledge the closure of the Willow Court side of the Royal Derwent Hospital. The event will be officially (invite only) opened by, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AC and the schedule of Speakers include Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart (Convict Historian), Margaret Reynolds (ex teacher Lachlan Park Hospital), Pete Smith (ex staff member) and poet Liz McQuilkin. co author of Renovating Madness (Karen Knight and Liz McQuilkin 2018).

Music will be from the Derwent Valley Concert Band who will bring back the sounds of the concert bands that were based at the Hospital.

‘Stories from the Asylum’

***NEW UPDATED PROGRAM***

‘Stories from the Asylum’ marks the 20thanniversary of the closure of Willow Court that falls on 28thNovember, 2020. The event seeks to acknowledge this milestone in the asylum’s 193 year history through talks by guest speakers, poetry, music, storyboards, and podcasts (QR code only) recordings of former staff reflecting on their time at the hospital, and the Roses from the Heart bonnet tribute to the convict women who spent time at the New Norfolk asylum.

Saturday 28 November

10 – 11:30  Punishment and Health in convict Van Diemen’s Land  – Hamish Maxwell- Stewart

11:30 – 12  Renovating Madness – Liz McQuilkin poetry readings

12 – 1 pm  Music – Derwent Valley Band Brass Quintet

1 – 1:30     Renovating Madness – Liz McQuilkin poetry readings

2-3 pm   Sharing Some Insights into the Closure of Willow Court – Pete Smith

Sunday 29thNovember

10 – 12     Digital Future for Tasmanian History – Hamish Maxwell-Stewart

12-1 pm   Music Derwent Valley Band Saxophone Quartet

1 – 2 pm  Punishment and Health in convict Van Diemen’s Land  – Hamish Maxwell- Stewart

2 – 3 pm Reflections on Lachlan Park Hospital school – Margaret Reynolds – former teacher

3:30 – 4 pm Music Derwent Valley Band Saxophone Quartet

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Incorrect reporting ABC

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The ABC has been using some photos reportedly supplied by Willow Court History Group. Some of the stories attached to these photos are about the New Norfolk Distillery, Paranormal related activities and the Derwent Valley Council activity at the site.

We don’t know anything about these photos being (Supplied: Willow Court History Group) or the attached stories. We are not associated with these groups but the articles give the impression that we are in some way supportive. Had we been consulted on these matters we would have supplied the correct information for the photos and maybe had offered an alternative point of view, but no opportunity was given.

The first photo was reported to have been taken in 1968 when the hospital changed from Lachlan Park Hospital to the Royal Derwent Hospital. The true date of this photo is 100 years earlier 1868.

The second photo was taken in 1890 as suggested but the hospital’s name was the, “Hospital for the Insane”, New Norfolk (1859-1915) and not the New Norfolk Insane Asylum.


We are don’t like being associated with groups we wouldn’t align our philosophy of respect with, eg paranormal tour groups and our gathered information is used in a disrespectful and inaccurate manner. We are more than happy to assist with respectful and accurate information about the site and the history and hope that the ABC will contact us before using our gathered material and before associating us with stories or other groups.

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Barracks to be “State Museum”, 1962 report

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Finished, restored Barracks Museum

Above is an Artist’s impression of the restored Barracks building at Willow Court, this drawing dates back to 1962, about the same time that Dr. Eric Cunningham-Dax wrote about the proposed “State Museum” in his 1962 report on the state of the hospital and his recommendations to remedy these aging structures and treatment methods. The front of the Barracks building was already clearly ear marked in his report as a “State Museum”. He called for the gathering of historic artifacts and their storage in the Barracks buildings and it was recommended that immediate repair to the Barracks be undertaken to protect those stored artifacts.

Cunningham Dax Report 1962

The report also called for the physical structures of the hospital to change, additional services to be established around the State of Tasmania and the education of staff be a priority along with adequate remuneration. He writes about how staff are supplied housing and other perks in lieu of a comfortable salary.

The National Trust of Tasmania had a number of “artist impressions” of the restored Barracks and the image below shows what was going to be the proposed new multistory Ward behind the Barracks building, a very modern affair. History would show that there was a new Ward built behind the Barracks Building, it was known as Lachlan House and it was only a single story building that is now a number of converted, privately owned dwellings that face Humphrey Street. This ward only appeared after the deconstruction of the rear yard (behind the Barracks). This yard was referred to in some publications as the/a Male refractory as was B Ward (foundations still in the large Carlton Ward front yard). As different areas and Wards were used for different purposes during their life, this recollection could well be correct.

Artist’s impression of new hospital ward and Barracks restoration as a museum 1962

Urban Geason (ex-employee) remembers in his memoir his first shift in the Refractory division; When I entered the Refractory Division for the first time, I saw a large asphalted area about 100 yards square (about 100 m square), completely enclosed by buildings. All of them were old and ugly and showing their age, which was about 100 years old. It was a grim sight. Opening off the yard were patient dormitories, a mess hall, the central kitchen, the boiler house, a patient day room and the only two-storied building, the Pillar Ward. In the middle of the buildings facing Willow Court, the main entrance to the hospital, stood a tall building called the Bell Tower. The bell was rung to signal staff meal times, but the building was in fact the patients’ bath house and clothing store. Urban Geason: Ch 7 New Norfolk Asylum, 1936-39.

Below Dr Reg Parton recalled how the roof was repaired in his time as both an Acting Superintendent and the Superintendent in his letter to the editor of the local newspaper when the Heritage Council of Tas. were looking at delisting some important Tasmanian Heritage sites in Tasmania. He also recalled that there was “hospital paraphernalia” stored in the buildings during his tenure at the hospital.

Dr Reg Parton, Letters to the Editor

Thanks go to the following people for their assistants in supplying material for this article; Michelle Austin, Dr. Reg Parton (Derwent Valley Gazette), Urban Geason and the National Trust Tas.

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Asbestos Dump Site

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Over the last few decades it has been reported that there is an asbestos dump on the land at New Norfolk that was formerly under the control of the Royal Derwent Hospital. The asbestos was removed from the Royal Derwent Hospital/Willow Court Centre buildings after completion of a major asbestos audit. Parts of the site are still contaminated with asbestos which is mainly found in old electrical equipment such as switchboards and gaskets in the old heating system.

During the latest restoration an audit was undertaken, but the cost of removal was deemed too costly. The only way to remove these gaskets was to cut away large and heavy sections of metal pipes either side of the gasket, so as not to disturb the toxic material. Proper disposal of asbestos is costed by weight, the metal would add to the cost, so it was deemed safe while in situ.

The potential sale of the site was affected by two reported dump sites;
“While it was a large property, the Valuer-General established a value of just $500 000, taking into account heritage constraints as well as the poor state of many of the buildings. Furthermore, significant industrial contamination, including asbestos and hospital waste, existed at the site.”

The Valuer General’s 2013 report recognised that any developer would have to undertake remediation of the site at considerable cost so as to develop the area;
“However, at least $16m expense for service upgrades, sub-division, demolition of buildings and asbestos removal appeared unavoidable.”
The report goes on to mention the successful sale;
“After a two-year negotiation, sale was agreed to the Lachlan River Community Holdings Pty Ltd: a consortium of Derwent Valley Council and a private company, Mototo Business Group Pty Ltd.”

Given this report it appears that all documentation about the hospital waste site and the asbestos dump site were known to the Derwent Valley Council before, during and after the sale of the former RDH land.

To date it is believed there has been no remediation of the site, however the Gateway Estate housing development on the hill near the dump sites was approved by the Derwent Valley Council. It is unclear if the Council, as the previous owner, or the current developer undertook any safety audits or environmental reports of the land before development started to protect residents and construction personal.

In a report named “Preliminary Environmental Assessment of the Royal Derwent Hospital/Willow Court Centre” by Stoklosa Engineering PTY LIMITED dated 1996, a map shows the sites of the Hospital Waste and the Asbestos Dump Site (circled in red).

Below is another image from Google Earth which has been aligned, as much as it was possible, to the above image. The red circled area is a close proximity to the matching red circle from the above report.

An earlier report on this website raised many questions about the possible location of the dump site. A number of people suggested that the dump site was closer to the Lyell Highway, opposite Millbrook Rise. Previous stories.

In 2016 a “Structure Plan (Draft)” from the Derwent Valley Council reported; previous unknown location of an “asbestos dumping site”, even though, as the part owners of the site, the Derwent Valley Council had access to all the reports and information pertaining to the toxic dump site.

On Tuesday I visited the site and spoke with a local resident who informed me that the surveyors were working on the site in the area of the above red circle. This was believed to be in preparation for the next stage of housing development.

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New plans before the Council, Agrarian Kitchen

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Bronte plans for kiosk and cooking school

The Derwent Valley Council have two new Development Applications from the owners of the Agrarian Kitchen, the first is an extension to their current business housed in the old Bronte House. The expansion would entail a Kiosk and a Cooking School. This would bring all the business under one roof and would extend the operation hours for this location.

Full plans are on the Council Website. https://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/council/latest-news/application-for-planning-approval-da-1572019-11-the-avenue,-new-norfolk

The second development application is the creation of a large productive market type garden within the walled area of Carlton House. This area will have two ponds, two market or productive garden areas along with raised smaller garden beds and fruit trees.

Proposed Gardens

It is envisaged that the Gardens area will look something like this, but with the inclusion of two ponds, a poly tunnel and a tool shed.

Walled Gardens

Raised garden beds are planned to protect the underground archaeological heritage values. The only concern is the two 600 mm deep ponds which have been recognised as “Likely to impact significant and substantial archaeological remains” Brad Williams Heritage Consultant/Historical Archaeologist. full plans can be viewed on the Council’s website, https://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/council/latest-news/application-for-planning-approval-da-222020-11-the-avenue,-new-norfolk

The Agrarian Kitchen has been running a highly successful and complementary business within the Heritage site for some years. This is a natural progression as they bring their Lachlan Cooking School and gardens within the one location.

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Patients admitted to New Norfolk Hospital 1841-42

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Image by: Kate Wulf

We know that Willow Court Barracks was used as the General Hospital in the Derwent Valley until 1848 and after that it was one of Tasmania’s Asylum. So what was the mix of patient like and what would be their cause for admission? Below is a record gathered by Professor of History, Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, which gives us a clear idea of the admission causes for the Patients in 1841-2. During this time the Hospital was known as the Her Majesty’s Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk.

This was is a snapshot of the work that is being done to understand the Convict’s plight here in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), compared to those that were taken to other places around the world. The records have allowed for a significant study into the death and disease rate of Convicts which included Her Majesty’s Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk. By 1848 the Hospital was only to admit “Insane Patients” according to an instruction in April by Sir William Thomas Denison KCB, Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen’s Land who was Governor between 1847-55 in a bid to reduce the overcrowding issues that had been reported.

To do this during this time, a number of (well) Patients were ordered to leave Her Majesty’s Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk and go to the Probation Station at Impression Bay, while most reluctantly went, 27 refused to go, further discussions reduced that number to 14 dissenters. The Police Magistrate was called upon to remove the remaining well patients by the end of April 1848. It was reported to the Chief Police Magistrate that “it was not necessary to resort to coercive measures” and this then assisted to resolve the overcrowding issues for some time to come.

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Audio tour by Ian Brown circa 2007

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Ian Brown 2007

Above is a podcast recorded about 2007 where the Valley Vision Project Officer, Ian Brown conducted a tour of Willow Court. Valley Vision which was set up by the Derwent Valley Council. Valley Vision had plans for the site and did a lot of the groundwork that allowed for the current activities onsite.

Allonah Female High Secure Ward, Samantha Bulmer Collection

Valley Vision were about for nearly ten years and were unsuccessful in finalising the vision for the site before being disbanded by the Derwent Valley Council in 2009-10. It was interesting to note that the Councillors who disbanded Valley Vision also failed to complete any vision for the site. Some of the plans from Valley Vision included community use areas which were similar to the proposal recently put forward by the Friends of Willow Court. Other plans were for some art works to be returned or loaned from the Cunningham Dax Centre Museum, attached to the Melbourne University in Victoria.

Living In- Living Out

Valley Vision were also responsible for the Living In – Living Out exhibition which celebrated the worker’s throughout the decades in the hospital. Podcasts from the exhibition can be found on the Multimedia\audio page. Ian refers to “Tony” in the podcast, Tony is Tony Nicholson who was the Mayor\Local Historian at the time and who was also passionate about the site’s history and how that could be respectfully told to future generations.

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