OCTOBER TOURS CANCELED DUE TO SNAP CONVID LOCKDOWN
Upcoming tours
OCTOBER TOURS CANCELED DUE TO SNAP CONVID LOCKDOWN
OCTOBER TOURS CANCELED DUE TO SNAP CONVID LOCKDOWN
Lachlan Park Hospital circa 1960.
httpvh://youtu.be/Wk2CURa9SJA
Lachlan Park Hospital circa 1950-60.
This footage shows the Barracks from the rear enclosed yard which was demolished in the early 1960’s, H Ward and I Ward which were both female Wards, the old clock tower and accommodation rooms on the west side of the hospital including the old metal fold up bed which came from Port Arthur. Black & White silent footage.
New opening time proposed
The Derwent Valley Council have proposed new (revised) dates for the opening of the Heritage Precinct of Willow Court. After being informed about possible dates and then having them changed a number of times, it is great to see that the end of the current conservation works and the proposed times look like this may be it.
“It was generally agreed that an open day for the community to tour the Willow Court site be held in September 2014.”
“It was generally agreed that the official opening of the site be held in October 2014.”
Latest update from restoration works
• We have begun redevelopment work in earnest on Bronte, which has a nine week program. We start with demolition of the intrusive toilet block and then move to construction of new toilets and the kitchen, along with all interior finishes. Roof painting and plumbing has moved to the northern wing now that we have space to erect the scaffolding.
• Electrical and mechanical services are also being installed in Bronte and the Barracks in parallel with this work.
• Landscape works are drawing to a close. Scheduling of landscape works in the Bronte courtyard is dependent upon how the construction work progresses, but should occur during the last couple of weeks of this month. The Avenue pedestrian apron has been laid. Fencing issues should be resolved soon, and then work started.
• Interior finishes are being applied in The Barracks south wing, along with various little tasks around the veranda and external envelope of the building.
Basically, the major works within Bronte are underway and we are also progressing the many little ‘final’
tasks to do across the precinct.
Thanks
Brett
Restoration continues
Restoration work is continuing at the Willow Court Site and the preparation below the Barracks veranda is nearing completion, this will enable the foundations to remain dry and protected from excessive damaging moisture. New scaffolding can be seen on the west wing ready for restoration work to begin. The planned completion date has been pushed out to April and possibility May according to reports. Sealasash Window restoration company has posted a number of videos on YouTube about the Willow Court Restoration. I have added one which explains all of their restoration work. This is found on the restoration page, Click Here to view.
2013 Report Card
The biggest news story for the year would have to be the start of the physical restoration of the Barracks and Bronte Ward. Although the Derwent Valley Council have reported that
“The former psychiatric institution is recognised as having significant heritage values both in terms of its architecture and social history. After a chequered past, work is now being done to ensure its conservation for future generations and to look at adaptive reuse for some of the original buildings on the site”. (2012-13 annual report, page 9)
It appears that restoration is currently only for the architectural side only at the moment. However it is important that the DVC can see the “social history” from all parties who had something to do with the former hospital. It is this rich cultural heritage that should be shown to the world when the Derwent Valley Council opens the site to the public this Feb-March 2014.
We started the years off with being involved with the open days at the site and we released a 40 minute documentary to view free Willow Court Documentary (first public release). We then attended the Frascati House Heritage Day and made a podcast of the history that was spoken by the Daughter of Dr Brothers the Medical Superintendent during the second world war when she lived at the house with her brothers Frescati Heritage Open Day Our recording is now used as part of the New Norfolk Heritage Walk tour. Frescati House Plan (including audio link)
Tasmania was hit hard during the fire season and the Friends of Willow Court swung into action to raise much needed money for effected people with the Long Table Dinner Tasmanian Bushfire Fundraiser. This was cancelled by the actions of Cr. Judy Bromfield when she knowingly and deliberately stopped the insurance cover for people who were arranged as catering staff and had the necessary qualifications to serve alcohol for the evening’s event, Shame Cr Judy Bromfield Shame.
Another unfortunate event this year has been the Derwent Valley Council’s supported and sponsored “Paranormal Documentary”. This unpleasant work was reported to the Anti-discrimination and Privacy Commissioners, who found it to be in bad taste towards the previous patients who lived at Willow Court, but didn’t find it to be openly discriminatory. However the Privacy Commissioner believes if one of the previous residents depicted in this film should forward a complaint, there can be action taken to have the film maker remove the Archival footage obtained through Archives Tasmania. Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Steps In
Tasmania released its tourism statement to the world in March this year and Willow Court was to be part of that promotion as arranged by Willow Court Tasmania Advocacy Group, only to be told that Council infighting causes exclusion to Tourism Tasmania advertising campaign.
Some great moments were the audio recording of Ken O’Brien’s recollection of his 90 plus years living in a community with a hospital as its main employer. Some of Ken’s podcast can be found on the audio tab and linked to this article, posted soon after the interview. Royal Derwent Hospital’s water supply, sewage and sullage systems. Ken’s living witness and this 1941 Agreement help us to resolve the many stories that had emerged from the community about what the tunnels under the township were used for. Tunnel discovery announced.
We also released an ABC 7.30 Report about “institutionalisation to community” and how a group of ex-patients were successfully making a new life in the greater community of Hobart, Tasmania. ABC 7.30 Report 1991.
The Tasmanian Heritage Council Approved New Shopping Centre next to Willow Court which will dominate the oval area, while the previous Wards around that oval passed to private ownership, with some major works starting.
The Derwent Valley Players, in conjunction with the Friends of Willow Court, presented two original plays, written by Sharon Hutchison and directed by Vivienne de Bressac at the Barracks. Willow Court, New Norfolk, was the site of a wonderful event over the week-end this was the last public event before the restoration started.
The website had 100,000, then 200,000 hits this year and continues to grow as does the Facebook group and Facebook page which shows many people are interested in Willow Court becoming a “site of conscience”, a place that saw human struggles and achievement. Our members join without the admin “nominating” them. This is a better and realistic gage of true support.
The new Restoration Tab took shape with reports and photos of the progress of works at the site and continues to record the restoration processes.
This year has also seen a big push for an apology to the former residents which dominated and brought up many mixed feelings from residents and staff alike, New article from Margaret Reynolds in today’s Mercury plus a news article from 1960, Mayor to meet with Lara Giddings over “Apology” We saw the DVC declare its position about the history and struggle of human rights in this article Derwent Valley Council; crisis talks over apology, No voice for previous patients from Mayor Martyn Evans.
The Federal election this year gave us an opportunity to contact all the candidates for the seat of Lyons and ask their opinion about Willow Court becoming a Site of Conscience. We had replies from the Tasmania Greens and the sitting Labor candidate Federal Election 2013 Lyons and we are arranging a meeting with the current elected Member, Eric Hutchinson in early 2014. All are supportive for an Apology to mend the past wrongs of Government policy and inaction at Willow Court as advocated by us and many parents and former staff and management.
A highlight this year was the tour from the Project Manager Brett Noble and being able to share a portion of the photos that I took while listening to this man’s immense knowledge and experience with restoration of Tasmania’s Heritage Willow Court tour of closed Barracks section
We also saw the podcasts of the social history and audio tour by ex-employee, Anne McKinstray being used as educational tools for students from Fahan School by having them loaded onto I-pads and listened to during a wander around the site. Educational Audio Tour.
We also had a number of very personal stories shared, A personal story, Nurse Miss Evelyn Rose Morey M.B.E.
In a year that I thought we had little activity, it was good to look back at the history of what we have been up to at a volunteer work level, political level and a public communications level. It was great to have the support page up and running this year with a collections of supporting statements from our support base Contact & Support Us, it is these positive messages that keep up going.
From our team we wish you a happy and safe new year and we would love to see you at the opening of the NEW RESTORED WILLOW COURT in 2014.
Mark Krause
Restoration update
From Brett Noble, Senior Project Officer Willow Court.
As many would have noticed, there is currently considerably activity at The Barracks.
Over the last couple of weeks, all the windows facing into The Barracks courtyard have been restored to working order. The windows retain all the marks of their 180 years of life – patches, different paint layers, repairs, and breaks – but are now in working order. Some very intriguing metal work, hand stamped with the ‘convict arrow’, was uncovered during this work. The ‘convict arrow’ was also found on many of the window frames.
Work has also begun on a couple of the original doors, as a test of what this work will entail.
In addition, specialist renderers have been working on the verandah plinth, removing cement render and bits of loose render, ahead of applying a poultice. The poultice will be on for a few weeks, to draw out the moisture and salts that had been trapped in the masonry, before a new lime render is applied. Part of this work involved the removal of some of the brick pavers that were hard against the verandah plinth, and a little excavation along the face of the plinth. This work has shown that along the southern side of the building the original ground level was much lower that at present.
Behind the scenes, the head contractor requests for tenders is nearing completion, which should see the selection of a head contractor in the next week. As you will recall, part of the selection criteria for this work is the involvement of local sub-contractors.
Over the last couple of weeks, all the windows facing into The Barracks courtyard have been restored to working order. The windows retain all the marks of their 180 years of life – patches, different paint layers, repairs, and breaks – but are now in working order. Some very intriguing metal work, hand stamped with the ‘convict arrow’, was uncovered during this work. The ‘convict arrow’ was also found on many of the window frames.
Work has also begun on a couple of the original doors, as a test of what this work will entail.
In addition, specialist renderers have been working on the verandah plinth, removing cement render and bits of loose render, ahead of applying a poultice. The poultice will be on for a few weeks, to draw out the moisture and salts that had been trapped in the masonry, before a new lime render is applied. Part of this work involved the removal of some of the brick pavers that were hard against the verandah plinth, and a little excavation along the face of the plinth. This work has shown that along the southern side of the building the original ground level was much lower that at present.
Behind the scenes, the head contractor requests for tenders is nearing completion, which should see the selection of a head contractor in the next week. As you will recall, part of the selection criteria for this work is the involvement of local sub-contractors.
Merry Christmas Willow Court – Restoration underway.
“The Development Application (DA) has been approved and we are organising contracts and arranging for the work to be undertaken as per the DA documentation. Some specialist works are already underway. Asbestos has been removed from the buildings. Should be quite active on site leading up to Christmas”
Brett Noble
Senior Project Manager (Willow Court Project)
Great news that things are moving forward for Willow Court with restoration works and that tradespeople will be onsite in bigger numbers before Christmas. Opening events will be soon arranged and we will soon be able to have public access. Expected time for opening would be February – March 2014.
The Barracks west wing extention
I am attempting to find out what the lean-to (pictured below) which was attached to the outside wall of the Barracks was used for. I have a photo which is of the heavy security steel door on the inside which lines up with this 1981 photo of the side of the Barracks. What did it store and why such heavy security on the inside and on the outside it looks like a garden shed type construction? Any help would be appreciated.
Back brace RDH
This back brace was from Ward 3 of Royal Derwent Hospital. The brace is formed from material covered metal in the centre two supports. Most of the specialist equipment was made on site by the hospital’s own trades people. This could make a display at the restored Barracks Museum.
A Museum isn’t a new idea, it was suggested back in 1963 by Dr Cunningham-Dax M.B., B.S. (Lond.). B.Sc. (Lond.) D.P.M., (R.C.P. & S) In a report presented to the Tasmanian Parliament in January 1963, when he warned that, in front of “the old barrack square” was to be used as a State Museum, that every effort should be made to collect the remaining relics now.
