Past to Present. Memory to Action
What a wonderful time listening to Margaret Richards, the daughter of Dr Brothers, Medical Superintendent this afternoon and looking through Frescati House during the Heritage open day. Margaret lived at Frascati from 1935-1946 with her family up until the age of 11 years. I hope that I will have some audio and picture loaded soon.
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From 1827 New Norfolk was the home of Tasmania’s first Asylum which later became known as the Willow Court Training Centre, part of the Royal Derwent Hospital. The oldest remaining Asylum in its same location continually ran until the year 2000. “The Barracks” is the original and oldest part that can still be viewed today.
Tony Nicholson, Local Historian tells us about the history of the buildings and daily life within the walls of the Asylum with remarkable accuracy and respect.
173 years of history in 37 minutes. Produced in 2008
Now showing on the films tab click HERE
From the Team here at Willow Court Tasmanian Advocacy Group we hoped you had a safe and happy Christmas and wish you all the best for the New Year.
Thank you for your ongoing support in seeing the Vision of Willow Court as a sensitive and respectful tourist attraction and museum that interprets the story, not only of the people that worked at the Centre, but those that called it “Home”.
Cheers
Mark Krause
Susan Piddock Australian Author and Authority on Asylums.
Susan is an Australian renowned published author and authority on Australian Asylums. Her work has been made available here by her generous nature and her want to share the history of Australia’s Asylums.
By Susan Piddock
This book is available online to read, but not to download, without payment. It has some sections from Willow Court and there are some comparisons with other Institutions which are interesting. Susan also looks and compares a number of institutions against John Conolly’s “Ideal” Asylum Model .
The Willow Court inforation starts about chapter 8. There are floor plans of both Parkside Asylum (SA) and Adelaide Asylum (SA) and some early sketches of the Barracks, Willow Court’s floor plan. This is an adaption from her thesis work and reads like a piece of academic work, but really gives an evidence basis for the conclusions that are made. The book costs $205 on some websites, but is available here to read for free, thanks Susan.
Cheers
Mark
We have been given four films that will go into the educational side of the website. I am still trying to date two of them, but the others are from 1960 – 1991. We are now gathering a really good historical film library and have permission to use them for educational purposes and some for extra footage within our own willow court documentary.
Here are some stills from the films.
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