The Barracks – Page 3 – Willow Court Tasmania

Alan Pearson and Lew Rice

July 9, 2013 3 Comments

Alan Pearson who was the Chairman of the RDH Board for many years until closure of the site in 2001, and Lew Rice, well known former employee of RDH and talented saxophone player have passed away. Lew Rice died on Friday, he was in charge of C Ward for many years and both men will be a big loss for the knowledge and social heritage of Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital. We send our condolences to the families.

Monochrome photograph of the XL Orchestra. Lew Rice (alto sax & clarinet), Max Whittaker (sax) Vera Maxfield (piano), Jock Morison (violin), Geoff Rice (drums),

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Museum tells story of mental health

July 3, 2013 1 Comment

“Our goal is to tell the story of the people who lived and worked in the hospital,” Dysart said during a tour of the museum. “And, also, to raise the issues of mental illness. There is no one in the world who hasn’t been touched by mental illness or doesn’t know someone who has been touched by it.”

This story tells the history of the Oregon State Hospital and the people who went through the doors. I like this comment on page two; “”In the world of mental health, there is the stigma and the shame, which is so sad,” Dennie Brooks said. “Because we now know more than ever.” How true of Willow Court and any other system in Australia for that matter. We could well look back and think the same in twenty years time. There is an opening and opportunity for Willow Court to tell it’s story and allow people to make up their own minds about our past practices and the full social history.

Museum tells story of mental health care

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100,000 HITS!!! Thank you

June 27, 2013 No Comments

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The Site and Buildings of New Norfolk

June 18, 2013 No Comments

The Proposed Glenorchy Site

Dr Macfarlane, the current Superintendent of New Norfolk, thought that overall the New Norfolk site was best and would not recommended its movement closer to
Hobart as this would allow greater public intrusion and disturbance of the patients. A view supported by Dr. Coutie, the Assistant Medical Officer, who
believed the site was healthy, with a good view, abundant water, and the grounds could be expanded. While Rev. W. Murray who gave services at New
Norfolk, thought that patients were more excited after the visits of friends and relatives so some distance from the main town was advisable if it would
decrease visits. Dr. Huston, the former Superintendent, echoed this view indicating the site was the best and a new asylum was not required. If placed
near Hobart he believed the patients would be less able to go outside the walls due to a natural dread of the insane by people. Miss Laland, the Matron,
offered a different view believing the asylum should be near Hobart. More entertainments would be accessible, there would be more intercourse with
friends, and patients could go out to church and on outings.

The New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane. Susan Piddock

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What’s in a name?

June 17, 2013 No Comments

“In 1937 the name of the asylum changed to Lachlan Park Hospital. This was the first time that reference to an asylum, insanity or mental disease was removed from the name of the institution. It had previously been known as the Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk (1829), the Hospital for the Insane, New Norfolk (1855), and the Mental Diseases Hospital (1915). The dropping of references to mental diseases and insanity with the name changes to Lachlan Park Hospital reflect an attempt to distance the institution from the social stigma attached to these terms.”

The New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane. Susan Piddock

Global, Local

Bronte Ward under repair.

June 11, 2013 No Comments

John working in the afternoon sun as it streams through the Bronte ward windows. He is applying a coat of paint to the restored frames.

This is what restoration looks like! So many of us have been looking forward to seeing some photos and evidence of work starting at the site.

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Power to the Avenue

June 11, 2013 No Comments

Aurora’s activities today in the Avenue are working towards Willow Court having a good supply of electric power along with others in the Avenue, by the photos this is very close to finishing. The last photo shows a new power pole with a transformer in front of Bronte Ward ready and waiting to be connected. Connection will allow better security for the Historic Precinct of The Barracks, C & A Wards and Bronte Ward. Local businesses on the east side of George Street went without power for most of the day to cater for this connection, costing over $75,000.

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The many roles of the Royal Derwent Hospital in the early seventies

June 5, 2013 No Comments

• Acute admission unit (includes the most violent patients from the whole state)

• Convalescent unit (all patients requiring more than six weeks in-patient care)

• Chronic psychotic rehabilitation unit

• Disturbed epileptic holding unit

• Elderly psychotic holding unit

• Psycho-geriatric acute admission unit

• Psycho-geriatric chronic disturbed holding unit

• Housing for senile dements (not requiring hospital care who have nowhere else to go)

• Chronic sick not mentally ill but ‘difficult’

• Mental retardation assessment unit

• Mental retardation children in-patients unit

• Totally dependent unit

• Mental retardation education & training young patients

• Mental retardation holding unit older patients

• Mental retardation rehabilitation unit

• Disturbed mentally retarded holding unit

• Youthful offenders male

• Youthful behaviour disorders in males (not yet offenders)

• Youthful behaviour disorder female (not offenders – not under propel’ control)

• Youthful offender’s female (minor offences)

• Older psychopaths

• Older subnormal offenders

• Psychotic offenders (serious offences)

• Psychotic offenders (minor offences)

• Socially incapable

• Chronic neurotics

• Social nuisances

• Alcoholics

Memories, stories of Tasmania’s Last Mental Asylum 1960-2001 (Draft) NDS

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Tasmanian Heritage Council Approved New Shopping Centre next to Willow Court

May 24, 2013 No Comments

Council approved a Supermarket Development on the old oval precinct area and the Tasmanian Heritage Council also approved the plans at its February meeting, subject to several conditions including a stipulation that the building must be a natural stone or brickwork colour similar to the lime-wash finishes found on the earliest buildings at Willow Court. New Norfolk News Article

This will help the new complex be in sympathy with it’s heritage neighbours it is believed. This is something that planners will only have one chance at getting right and we are hopeful that this has had enough thought.

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ABC Broadcast; Whose heritage is worth saving in Tasmania?

May 23, 2013 No Comments

Is Tasmania preserving the right things and whose heritage is worth saving anyway?

This is ABC’s Louise Saunders and Sarah Gillman interview of a mixed group of Tasmanians about our Heritage and what is worth saving and at the expense of what other heritage sites? She starts with the question, what is Heritage?

ABC Radio Tasmania Heritage Audio 44 minutes.

A general discussion about Heritage within Tasmania with guest speakers Paul Johnston, Architect; Warwick Oakman, architectural historian and member of the National Trust; Briony Kidd, Hobart-based director and playwright who was involved with the Save 10 Murray Street campaign; Dr Dianne Snowden, chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council; Aaron Everett, Aboriginal Heritage Officer with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Adrian Kelly, President of the Tasmanian Real Estate Institute.

Dianne Snowden is an ex-officio member of the Willow Court Conservation Committee as well as being the chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council.