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Lachlan Park Memorabilia sold today

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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.

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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”

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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. 730 report

 

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 new norfolk 025

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Funding options for Frascati House and handing over the key to Willow Court?

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Derwent Valley Council last week discussed a proposal to obtaining a grant from the National Stronger Regions Fund, a Federal Government funding pool that is allocated for infrastructure in regional communities. The fund requires that the amount asked for be matched dollar for dollar. During this discussion under point 10.5 of the Council’s own agenda, the money would be used for

“restoration of Frascati House, with inclusion of a high quality conferencing facility, museum including nursing memorabilia, possible re-location of the Historic Information Centre (following consultation with the committee) and future tea room with the capability to be used to train students from the High School (in particular) in basic hospitality skills.”

It was debated that the Council put forward half a million dollars of rate payers funds to obtain the grant. Some Councillors didn’t want to use rate payers funds for this purpose and the matter was debated then approved.

The Derwent Valley Council is looking to sell off land on the flood plains behind the new Woolworths Supermarket Complex and it is believed that this would/could reimburse the rate payer funds or add to them. There wasn’t a valuation mentioned during the meeting to know if this would in fact cover the cost to the rate payers of the Derwent Valley. The proposed use for the grant is different than stated in the Council’s very own McDonald Report, which is believed to have cost about $70,000.

One of the criteria for this grant is that it must provide ongoing economic benefit for the community and address disadvantage, collaboration is looked upon favourably. With this and the need for a fully costed heritage works plan and fully costed ‘fit out’ in mind it is suggested that the Oatlands Heritage Centre 5 x 5 x 5 project be contacted to prepare those costings for that project.

It is also believed that there is a possibility that the contractor will conclude present site works at Willow Court and the key will be handed over to the Derwent Valley Council. Mayor Martyn Evans also cautioned that dates have been announced and, have past before, without the end in sight. If it is the case then the Derwent Valley Council will take full control of the site and it’s management at the end of June.

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Willow Court mentioned in Canberra

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Click here to listen to the speach from Lyons Member Eric Hutchinson. You will have to sign onto your Facebook Account to do so.

This is a speech that Senator Eric Hutchinson presented in Canberra this week and he also mentioned the Friends of Willow Court and the Friends of Frascati House, both special committee’s of the Derwent Valley Council. He also mentions the Councils part in actively putting the Willow Court Heritage Precinct forward for National Heritage listing. The assessment process is about to start and the Friends groups are ready to support the Council in this endeavor.

Meanwhile the Derwent Valley Gazette ran a full page picture and story of the National attention that Willow Court is now receiving. Councillor James Graham and the Derwent Valley Council’s Regional Development Officer, Jess Dallas today attended the Upper House’s Inquiry into Built Heritage with the Council’s own submission and he reported tonight that the Committee were thankful for the Council’s submission. Earlier this week the Upper House Committee toured through Willow Court with the Friends of Willow Court and listened to their submission. Part of their inquiry is to look at an ongoing funding source for all Tasmanian Heritage.

 

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Built Heritage Committee Visit Willow Court

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(L – R) Sharon Hutchison FoWC, Hon Adriana Taylor MLC, Hon Rob Valentine MLC, Vivienne de Bressac FoWC, Hon Ivan Dean MLC, Hon Kerry Finch MLC, Anne Salt Chairperson FoWC.

Today the Legislative Council Built Heritage Committee met with the Friends of Willow Court and toured the site as part of their investigations into Tasmanian Heritage. The use and conditions of the site were taken into considerations on today’s tour as the committee wandered through the restored and un-restored sections. The Derwent Valley Council will have a separate time with the the Committee Members next week. The Committee are looking and reporting back on the following:

The management, preservation, tourist marketing and promotion of built heritage assets in Tasmania, with particular reference to:

1. The current and future potential contribution that built heritage makes to tourism in Tasmania;
2. The role of Government;
3. The role of tourism organisations;
4. The role of heritage organisations;
5. Any relevant considerations in other jurisdictions;
6. Any other matters incidental thereto.

The Committee Members moved onto Redland’s Estate after their Willow Court experience.

 

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Hon Adriana Taylor MLC getting a photo with two Members of the Friends of Willow Court

 

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Start of the Heritage listing process for Willow Court

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Eric Hutchinson being interviewed in front of the Willow Court Barracks Building

The Derwent Valley Council Media release.

The Derwent Valley Council welcomes the announcement that the Willow Court Barracks Precinct and Frescati House at New Norfolk are to be assessed by the Australian Heritage Council for possible inclusion in the National Heritage List.

Mayor Martyn Evans said that two of the buildings in the precinct were older than those at Port Arthur and were deserving of national recognition. The main building at Willow Court was built as an invalid barracks in 1830, designed by the convict architect John Lee Archer. Nearby Frescati House was built for Colonial Secretary John Burnett in 1834 at a time when the colonial governors favoured New Norfolk as their summer retreat. Both became part of a much larger hospital site that closed in 2000-01.

“The entire site has local and state heritage listing as well as being included on the Register of the National Estate which was the highest standard prior to the establishing of the National Heritage List,” Councillor Evans said. “With only 124 places included on the list as it stands, we know it will be a rigorous assessment process but the council has no doubt about the national significance of Willow Court both as a convict site and for the story it tells about developments in the understanding and treatment of mental health and intellectual disability over a period of 170 years,” Cr Evans said.

“Council understands that the assessment process may take as long as two years but we will not be sitting on our hands in the meantime,” Cr Evans said. “Having recently expended more than $1.5 million on urgent conservation works at the Barracks and Bronte House, the council is exploring all options to continue that work. With our own funds exhausted, we are about to embark on a world-wide expression of interest process,” he said.

Mayor Evans said the council was deeply appreciative of the interest shown by the Federal Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and the Federal Member for Lyons, Eric Hutchinson MP, as well as State Cabinet members who visited the site last month. “Council sees the sensitive development of the Willow Court site as one of the keys to the future prosperity of the Derwent Valley. Our ultimate goal is to see Willow Court take its rightful place among the 11 other Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage List,” Mayor Evans concluded.

Podcasts: 1 Deputy Mayor Ben Shaw, 2 Eric Hutchinson MP, 3 Tony Nicholson OAM.

Also Deputy Mayor Ben Shaw stated on his Facebook page:  “The Land Sale Committee has recommended the sale/expression of interest go out for a parcel of land on George Street (the large flat area below the new Woolworths) if council receive an agreeable price for this land the proceeds will go into Willow court restoration” 

 

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Friends of Willow Court member honored

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The Queens Birthday Honors list has revealed that the Friends of Willow Court Member, Mr Antony David (Tony) Nicholson, of Lachlan, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to local government and to the community of the Derwent Valley. Tony had recently spent all of the weekend at the Friends of Willow Court Heritage Month Display showing visitors about and being available to share his historical knowledge. Tony has been a supporter of Willow Court becoming a top Australian tourist attraction that respectfully tells the story of the past staff and residents. Picture above, Tony is showing and explaining to a group of TAFE students the Willow Court facility and the past practices of the time. Tony has a long history with the Derwent Valley Council and Derwent Valley Historic Association and was an ex-employee of Willow Court\Royal Derwent Hospital.

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Friends of Willow Court invited to Government House

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The Governor’s partner invited all the Members of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee to a very special musical performance of Dean Stevenson’s original works at Government House tonight.

The invite came during the opening ceremony for the recent Heritage Month activities arranged by the committee. It was good to have a bit of rest and relaxation after the work.

 

 

mms_img-1574711508_20150601T203057-914Thank you to Her Excellency The Governor of Tasmania Professor Kate Warner and Mr. Dick Warner.

 

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Leaving gifts.

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What to do with so many “unbreakable” glass window panes? Make them into leaving gifts!015 016 017I saw this today at a friend’s house, her father, a highly respected advocate for people living with a disability both at Willow Court and later within the community, was presented with it after the closure in October 2000. The glass slabs were almost unbreakable and are about  1.5 cm thick and here it is mounted in a perspex frame and stand. While all things Willow Court/Royal Derwent Hospital are highly collectible, for some they also represent many years of dedicated service.

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