Kew Lunatic Asylum is a decommissioned psychiatric hospital located between Princess Street and Yarra Boulevard in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Operational from 1871 to 1988, Kew was one of the largest asylums ever built in Australia. Later known as Willsmere, the complex of buildings were constructed between 1864 and 1872 to the design of architects G.W. Vivian and Frederick Kawerau of the Victorian Public Works Office[1][2] to house the growing number of "lunatics", "inebriates", and "idiots" in the Colony of Victoria.[1]
The first purpose-built asylum in the Colony of Victoria, Kew was also larger and more expensive than its sister asylums at Ararat and Beechworth. The asylum's buildings are typical examples of the Italianate architecture[3] style which was popular in Victorian Melbourne. Designed to be elegant, beautiful, yet substantial, and to be viewed as "a magnificent asylum for the insane" with the aim of portraying Melbourne as a civilised and benevolent city whilst avoiding the jail-like appearance of other asylums.[4][5] These aims were furthered by the use of low ha-ha walls and extensively landscaped grounds. Long considered of cultural and historic significance to Melbourne, Kew Asylum and its complex of buildings were registered on the Register of the National Estate in March 1978.[6]
Despite initial grand plans and ideals, Kew Asylum had a difficult and chequered history, contributing to several inquiries[7][8] throughout its 117 years of operation, including a Royal Commission.[9] Overcrowding, mismanagement, lack of resources, poor sanitation and diseases were common criticisms during the asylum's first five decades;[1] out-dated facilities and institutionalisation were criticisms of Kew's later period.
Kew continued to operate throughout the 20th century as a "hospital for the insane", "mental hospital", or "psychiatric hospital", treating acute, long-term and geriatric patients until it closed in December 1988. The main building and surrounding grounds were sold by the State Government in the 1980s and were redeveloped as residential properties.
^ abcDay
^"Former Willsmere Hospital (listing VICH861)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
^"VHD". Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
^VPP1876 vol.3, p.57
^Day, p.31
^Cite error: The named reference register was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Kew Lunatic Asylum is a decommissioned psychiatric hospital located between Princess Street and Yarra Boulevard in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia...
Victoria, Australia. Originally known as Ararat Lunatic Asylum, Aradale and its two sister asylums at Kew and Beechworth were commissioned to accommodate the...
recreation, the asylum included tennis courts, an oval and cricket pavilion, kiosk and a theatre. One of the distinctive features of both KewAsylum and Beechworth...
hospitals. There are no institutions known to have existed. There are no asylums known to have existed. Glenside Hospital James Nash House Cascades Female...
Kew Lunatic Asylum, and became known as the Kew Idiot Asylum from 1887 until c.1929. From 1929 they have been known as the "Children's Cottages, Kew"...
The events at the KewAsylum were described in The Argus on 3 September 1879: "A curious incident has occurred at Kew Lunatic Asylum. A lunatic was brought...
Commons has media related to Yarra Bend Asylum. List of Australian psychiatric institutions Kew Lunatic AsylumKew Cottages HM Prison Fairlea Parks Victoria...
Length City Country Coordinates Notes m ft 1. Willsmere – KewAsylum Residential 1871 950 3,120 Kew, Victoria Australia 2. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition...
Carlton Asylum, KewAsylum and Yarra Bend Asylum. He continued to draw at Yarra Bend, and became known as 'the mad artist'. He died at Beechworth Asylum in...
newspaper articles. She investigated undercover as an attendant at the KewAsylum, a psychiatric hospital in Melbourne and also as an assistant nurse at...
several prominent projects, Amess' firm was involved in the building of the KewAsylum, Old Treasury Building and Customs House, and he personally funded the...
committed to the KewAsylum, a psychiatric hospital in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The facility opened in 1871 during an era when large asylums were in vogue...
alerted. Kew Cottages Kew Lunatic Asylum Lakeside Mental Hospital List of Australian psychiatric institutions Sunbury Industrial School Yarra Bend Asylum Sunbury...
Bridge, KewAsylum Footbridge (Demolished) - 1864 - 1934 Fairfield/Kew Originally built by John Young to transport stone for the building of KewAsylum. The...
found and taken into custody peacefully the next day. J Ward KewAsylum Beechworth Asylum List of Australian psychiatric institutions "Forensicare". Victorian...
Name Image Years as tallest Height Floors Notes KewAsylum 1871–1876 30 m (98 ft) 5 Yorkshire Brewery Tower 1876–1888 34 m (112 ft) 8 Fink's Building 1888...
the start of his career when he reluctantly became a medical officer at KewAsylum in 1923, Ellery had a progressive and provocative approach to his career...
opening of the KewAsylum in 1872, Collingwood ceased to function as an independent institution, and functioned merely as a ward of Kew. In June 1873 all...
incurable alcoholic". Oft-repeated stories that Wills ended up in gaol or at KewAsylum near the end of his life are not supported by substantive evidence. He...
Melbourne GPO (1861 - prior to extensions), the Royal Arcade (1870), KewAsylum (1871), Peter Kerr designed Customs House in Williamstown (1873-1875)...
insane were transferred to a Hospital for the Insane such as KewAsylum or Yarra Bend Asylum by order of the Superintendent of the Receiving House. Following...
February Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom 9 February Teacup Travels CBeebies Asylum BBC Four 10 February The Gift BBC One 14 February How We Got to Now BBC...
Kilda Cricket Club's ground, but became mentally ill and was admitted to KewAsylum. After two years there he died in December 1903, leaving a widow and a...
Terminus Hotel, Geelong (originally the Golden Point Hotel). Kew Lunatic Asylum 1864–1872 in Kew, with George W. Vivian Maldon courthouse Knowle House in...
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