Willow Court- Insane Asylum

Willow Court takes its name from two willows planted by Lady Franklin, the wife of the Lieutenant-Governor, which were reputed to be two cuttings from the grave of Napoleon on Saint Helena. Willow Court pre dates the well known site of Port Arthur. The complex and the adjoining Royal Derwent Hospital, was the oldest mental hospital in Australia still in use, at the time of its closure in 2000-01. In early years the hospital served three purposes; as a general hospital for the district, an invalid depot for convicts and an asylum for the insane (to serve the whole colony). It remained under military administration until the official Government take-over in 1855. Eventually the hospital became virtually self-sufficient when farms on adjacent land were used to grow fruit and vegetables and produce sheep, cattle, pigs and poultry. At the end of the 20th century, changes in Government policy led to activities at the complex being wound down and eventually closed.

Asylum

New Norfolk, Tasmania

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Royal Derwent
• Willow Court
• Abandoned Asylums
• paranormal
• hanuted

[resident1965]

I realise this hospital seems bad to us now-a-days but it was modern for its time. I a tragedy seeing how idiots vandalised these buildings. They should have been Heritage Listed like Battery Point & Port Arthur but now gone. Your photos are fantastic & I would really love to see more to get an insight on what some members of my family went thru when they were admitted there, one was for life and died in old age, the other was for about 10 years and the other was unfortunately my mother

[Jarvo325]

@resident1965

Hey mate the older Willow Court Buildings are all heritage listed and won't be knocked down. Where abouts do you live?

[Jarvo325]

LOL some people do!

[resident1965]

@LATINOJKE

get a life, to many people this was their only way of life, feel sorry for what many went thru.

[LATINOJKE]

fuk that would be the best place to smoke my shiet