Past to Present. Memory to Action
In an updated 2016 plan, the Derwent Valley Council were informed that the old Royal Derwent Hospital site may pose significant health risks. These are asbestos within the buildings, building rubble and in an undisclosed dumping site on the property. Other issues are undeclared flood prone areas and two dump sites which it still remains unclear if biological hazards were placed.
The Friends of Willow Court Committee were honoured to have the company of Rodney Dunn at the 2016 annual general meeting. Rodney is the owner of the Derwent Valley favourite and world famous ‘Agrarian Kitchen’ situated in Lachlan. Renowned for his gourmet expertise, delightful old -world cooking school and neighbourly connections for fresh ingredients Rodney shares his plans for a new eatery and shop within Willow Court. The newly renovated Bronte building within the council owned section of Willow Court presents an appealing, relaxed and historically significant atmosphere for a choice dining experience.
It has been a foresight of the Friends of Willow Court of the sites potential for tourism and educational opportunities. Rodney explains the eatery’s location within the picturesque setting of the valley will provide an idyllic destination for functions and travellers to dine. The eatery and shop will show case locally sourced produce and highlight specialist kitchen equipment. Diners will enjoy the taste of the valley with a finely crafted menu. The site has room for expansion or as Rodney envisions a partnership with a boutique brewery.
Excited by the prospect of tourism to the site, committee members still held concerns for how the new eatery would engage the public with the historical memories and stories of the site. It was discussed and subsequently agreed upon that the sites rich heritage be preserved through interpretation. Rodney is eager to work with Friends of Willow Court, the Derwent Valley Council and the Willow Court History Group to implement interpretive panels within the eatery that will feature key stories that will connect the past to the present.
The new Agrarian Kitchen will reinvigorate the Willow Court historic Precinct with a modern dining experience for locals and visitors alike. Through interpretation the Friends of Willow Court Committee will help to develop a sophisticated respect and connection with the sites heritage to promote education and a more informed future.
By Nadia Lobb
The 2016 Heritage Month activities were held at the privately owned section of Willow Court after the Derwent Valley Council refused to discuss or second a motion put forward by Councillor Frank Pearce to have the Council’s own committee hold the activities in the recently restored council owned area.
Haydn and Penny Pearce opened the doors of their private area of Willow Court, including the 1860’s built, Ladies Cottage for the Friends of Willow Court, Heather Burke Associate Professor in Archaeology at Flinders University and Mark Woodley, Heritage Plasterer, who has been restoring the original wall around the Council owned land.
The event was well supported by the public with a number of people attending either both days or both events in the one day and enjoying lunch at the well loved Patchwork Cafe.
Frascati House enjoyed their Heritage activities the weekend before and were fortunate enough not be be locked out by the Council.
Heritage Tasmania activities are held throughout Tasmania’s best Heritage sites and supported by both the Friends groups who understand the heritage values of each of the sites.
There wasn’t any activity on the DVC owned Willow Court site during the weekend and the site remained locked.
Above. Associate Professor Heather Burke outside the locked gates of Willow Court with paying guests. (c) Copyright 2016
The next meeting of the Derwent Valley Council has a proposal:
8.1 Cr Bester – Terms of Reference – Friends of Willow Court Special Committee
1a. To work with Council to maintain public areas at the Willow Court Precinct
(excluding Frescati House and Garden, the Community Garden and privately-owned
properties in the precinct).
1b. To suggest projects to improve visitor amenity.
1c. To help foster community support for the site.
The Friends of Willow Court Special Committee has had to wait an unreasonably long time for a council response to its proposed Terms of Reference.
The local news team covered the Friends of Frascati Heritage event but there wasn’t any article for the four tours run by the FoWC.
On the 5th May the Derwent Valley Council considered the Event Co-ordination Quote for support around the Dark MOFO event. A range of events and services were considered as part of the planning including:
It is unclear at the moment if the “Proposed street events to compliment the Dark MOFO event to be held at Willow Court in June 2016″ was passed by the Council. It is expected that 8000 people will visit the free exhibition during the 72 hours that Mike Parr will be working.
The proposal is suggesting entertainment, marketing, stageing, security and transportation, bonfires, lighting, food and drinks. This is the first big event that the site has had since the stage one restoration was completed and is inline with the DVC plans for the site to be an events centre of quality which would attract people and support the business opportunities of the town and area.
The full plan is 2 May 2016 – Special Council Meeting Agenda or click the picture above.
Students of Flinders University have been able to capture the continuing vandalism of Willow Court. While the Barracks and Bronte remain low risk and clear of the damage that previously plagued the site, the same can not be said of Carlton (C Ward), Industrial Therapies and Alonnah Wards (A Ward). Under the protection by the owner, the Derwent Valley Council these buildings remain subject to vandalism including the smashing of many of the one inch thick glass panels that distinguish the property as the old criminal division of Lachlan Park.
We hope that this ongoing damage can be stopped soon and the Council can protect these public assets. The cost of replacing the many glass panes is unknown but would be considerable. These Wards are often the most visually powerful in getting people to understand this part of the site housed people who were considered dangerous to the community. Large walls, 1″ thick glass windows and three inch thick laminated doors housed Tasmania’s Criminals who were judged criminally insane.
Later the site was used to house people with intellectual disabilities because the Criminal division was moved to the Risdon Prison site. A number of reports considered and recommended the wards inappropriate and should close.
The Derwent Valley Council also reported a breakin at Frascati House and the door needed repair and resecuring earlier this year.
Even after the roofing iron was removed from Carlton Ward and the Deputy Mayor reported it, it remained off for a couple of weeks and allowed access for urban explorers, paranormal enthusiasts and vandals.
The Friends of Willow Court and the Friends of Frascati are both planning events for 2016 Heritage month. The Friends of Willow Court are looking at tours with Associate Professor Heather Burke and Mark Woodley on the 14th and 15th of May 2016, while the Friends of Frascati House are looking at an Open House on the 8th May 2016.
This is a great opportunity to hear from those that have been working at Willow Court. Hear what has been found so for from Archaeology investigation and listen to Mark talk about his work on the external wall, pictured and restored below.
Both tours are before the Derwent Valley Council for final approval.
More information when it becomes available.
Are the Derwent Valley Council confused about Willow Court use? It would appear so. The Malcolm McDonald Report was the professional advice the Council spent $80,000 of taxpayer funds to obtain, so they could follow the best path for the centre.
Yet in the Gazette the Mayor, who has previously declared Willow Court to be one of the most haunted sites in Australia, without evidence has declared that the expressions of interest process will go ahead to look for “after dark ghost tours (exploiting previous staff and patients), weddings, history tours and even a gallery or wine show”
The current state of the Derwent Council and their decision making was on display on social media a couple of weeks ago after the last meeting when the planned food van/main street festival idea was voted down. There appears to be many agendas with individual council members and we are not sure if this is one of them. We also believe that spending $80,00 of taxpayer funds on advice only to totally ignore it is disappointing of the public office.
While these plans are going ahead, the Council are still in negotiation with the Agrarian Kitchen and a micro brewery to occupy the Bronte building.
This is the section of the Structure Report from the Derwent Valley Council that relates to Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital. There are some interesting statements on the Willow Court side, in particular the “development in a ad-hoc manner” and “there is currently no overall documented vision or consistent set of objectives for Willow Court”.
As for the Royal Derwent side of the Lachlan River; “identify risks on site, including flood prone land and potential land contamination”, this would be referring to development in low areas along the Lachlan River and the the fact that there were landfill sites with “potential bio-hazard material” and also a previous unknown location of an “asbestos dumping site”. There has been concern over asbestos during the demolition process along with other building rubble.
The current zone , it would appear is for residential urban development on the Royal Derwent Hospital side of the Lachlan River which would raise concerns with the unknown location of the asbestos dump and ground contamination.
While this is a draft document there are concerns, hopefully now the Council know these they can be addressed. We will watch this space.
Click image above to see full document.
Well another year comes to an end and this year has seen some progress both at the Willow Court Site and on this website. At Willow Court we know that stage one of the conservation has been completed and the Derwent Valley Council have now reconsidered the Community House idea for Willow Court and are now pursuing a more tourist focused plan. The site closed for conservation in 2012 and remains closed three years later, by comparison the Mona Site was built and opened to the public in a shorter space of time.
(c) 2015 Heritage Week Display officially opened by the Governor of Tasmania.
The Friends of Willow Court are to present to the Derwent Valley Council their plans for professional thematic tours early next year. We have seen part restoration of the wall this year, displays of the juncture of Willow Court and world conflict, a play by the Derwent Valley Players at Frascati House and the Prime Minister of Australia visit the soon to be listed Heritage site. We have also seen the very real support from Eric Hutchinson MP who has actively pursued the interests of Willow Court in Canberra.
(c) 2015 Professional display presented at Willow Court by the Friends of Willow Court.
On the not so positive side we still can’t arrange tours despite the countless inquiries by individuals and groups. We have also heard of several different councillors who all have their own agendas for the site.
(c) 2015 Group of visitors can’t access the site.
The website has had a big facelift this year and has become more accessible for our diverse community, thanks to the input and skills of Joshua Krause IT and Michelle Eastwood for her transcribing services of our audio podcasts.
I would also like to thank Anthony Nicholson OAM: Consultant Historian and Ex-Employee Willow Court Admin and Anne McKinstray: Advisor and Ex-Employee Willow Court Centre for their input and advice.
The new website also makes reviewing the year easier by having the years news and other years down the right side of the webpage. Click the month to the right and see for yourself.
(c) 2015 Supporter Eric Hutchinson is a voice in Canberra.
From the Team at Willow Court History Group we thank you for your interest, participation and ongoing support to see Willow Court became the Historic Centre in New Norfolk that tourists want to visit and respect.
Happy New Year.
Mark Krause
The minutes of the Derwent Valley Council show an interesting item, below Mr Len Butterworth asked the Mayor if there is an answer to the discrepancy between the 2002 audit and the latest audit figure which puts the number of artifacts held and protected by the Derwent Valley Council at 500.
There is an ongoing investigation and we will keep an eye on this one.
6.5 Mr Butterworth – Royal Derwent Chattels Mr Butterworth noted that the had previously queried the location of 3,973 chattels documented in a 2002 audit, and referred to the provision of an electronic record documenting only 500 items by the former General Manager. The Mayor took the question on notice.