Archaeology at Willow Court – Willow Court Tasmania

Future plans for Archaeology at Willow Court in 2018 and 2017 Report

April 13, 2017 4 Comments

The outcomes of the 2017 field season included:
 The excavation of three underfloor areas beneath rooms in the Barracks (the old
hardware store room, pharmacy and Assistant Superintendent’s office) and the
excavation of three trenches at the rear of Frescati.

 To enable the excavations at the Barracks, floorboards were removed from parts of
the floor of the hardware store and pharmacy. These were removed by the Centre for
Heritage at Oatlands. These boards will be replaced by the Centre for Heritage at
Oatlands. No boards were removed in the Assistant Superintendent’s office.

 The artefacts from the Barracks included hundred of pieces of butchered animal bone
(mainly sheep and cow), buttons, clay pipes and discarded medical equipment. This
will all be documented, analysed and interpreted by Flinders University Honours
student, Calvin Logan, as part of his Honours thesis. A copy of this thesis will be
provided to the DVC upon completion at the end of 2017.

 The excavations at the rear of Frescati did not reveal any outbuildings and contained
very few artifacts. A short report on these trenches will be provided to the DVC upon
completion in late 2017.

 A Community Open Day held on Sunday 12th February. We estimate that c300 people
attended this event.

 A special ‘Kids’ Dig’ was trialed as part of the Open Day and was very successful.
Feedback from parents indicated that it was both engaging and valuable.

 50 year 7 history students from Ogilvie High School visited the site on Friday 17th
February.

The Council provided the following ‘in-kind’ and financial support for this project, all financial assistance was requested to be allocated to the Willow Court Reservation Fund 2016 budget allocation as noted in the decision of the Council. This excludes the cost of time allocated to this project by indoor staff.

Future plans for Archaeology at Willow Court in 2018 (YET TO BE APPOVED)
Several community members asked whether they could participate in the excavations in
future. To facilitate this we would like to excavate next year in the Carlton (C Ward) yard, at the location of the former Gentlemen’s Cottage (A Ward above). This is a large outdoor area that could easily accommodate community participation. We would like to invite members of the community to take part in all aspects of the archaeology for the duration of the field school (to be held in February 2018 – precise dates to be advised).

Flinders University, the University of Tasmania and the University of Canberra are interested in applying for two grants for various aspects of Archaeology at Willow Court.

Global, Local

Archaeology digs and open day approved.

January 21, 2017 8 Comments

The archaeology digs proposed by Flinders University have been approved at the last meeting of the Derwent Valley Council on Thursday night. The digs are at the Ladies Cottage (J ward) on the privately owned section, Frascati House and at Willow Court. Also included in the proposal is an open day for members of the public to see and hear about what is happening.

The Council also approval a proposal by the Friends of Willow Court during a public meeting for “supervised walks” around the Barracks area on the same day. The Council will look at approving a media release by the committee once it is submitted. The submission was passed with a number of amendments, they are; that all people visiting the site have appropriate safe footwear, that access to Carlton and Allonah House be restricted to the outside only and that any media release be put to the General Manager and the Mayor within three weeks.

The open day will be on February 12th. Detailed information about Friends of Willow Court activities will be released soon.

Archaeology at Willow Court

Community Open Day

Sunday 12^th February, 2017

10am-4pm

Willow Court, New Norfolk

The Willow Court Barracks is one of the nation’s oldest hospital buildings, built between 1830 and 1833 to treat convict invalids and free settlers. A second barracks building (now demolished) was attached at the rear for patients with mental health issues—this was the first purpose built asylum in Australia.

Archaeologists have been working at the site of Willow Court since 2014 to try to understand the daily life of patients and staff in this institution across 170 years. As the longest lasting, continuously used mental health hospital in Australia, Willow Court is a rare example of changing attitudes to mental health, its nature and its treatment across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Come and meet the archaeologists, learn about the excavations, ask questions and contribute to understanding the site and its history. Entry and tours are free.

The archaeological work at Willow Court is supported by the Derwent Valley Council, Flinders University and the University of Tasmania.

All ages are welcome.

Willow Court History Group are not associated with the Derwent Valley Council, Friends of Willow Court or any paranormal groups.

Global, Local

Archaeology invasion

February 19, 2015 No Comments

Students everywhere! New Norfolk is host to a group of Students from South Australia who are on what is believed to be one of many trips to Australia’s oldest Asylum that has been on the same ground, and it is that last point that makes this an interesting site for archaeology. Layer upon layer of possibility is waiting to be discovered which the Friends of Willow Court are hoping to learn more about and the students are keen to get started. During this trip the current 2014 catalogue of remaining artifacts has been reviewed by the students under the careful guidance of Associate Professor Heather Burke. The 500 recorded items are being expanded upon as box loads of artifacts get broken down into singular items and the item count was over 900 by Wednesday night. The 2014 catalogue is being matched with older catalogues and cross referenced and there are some interesting pieces.

Members of the Friends of Willow Court also hosted the guests on Wednesday night at a BBQ at Anne and Chris Salts home. It was a great evening and we all enjoyed the teams enthusiasm for Willow Court’s history.