Photographed in the early 1900s, this black and white photograph depicts 25 members of the Mayday Hills Hospital Staff. Six men sit in front of the group (Mr Imhose stands fourth from the left in front row), upon the ground and behind them, in bright white clothing, sit eight female nurses upon a long bench (one of these nurses is identified on the rear as Miss A.J. Ross). Behind these women stand 10 men. The men are all wearing dark clothing and several have 'Kepi' style hats. The staff photograph was captured by Frazer and Vallance Photographers Melbourne. This image was originally combined with 1997.2491 but these images have since been torn apart and catalogued separately. Beechworth's Mayday Hills was chosen as the site of Victoria's newest asylum, at the time, due to the landscape and altitude. The hilltop atmosphere and the native fauna, it was argued, would assist in the cure of the patients kept at the hospital (Wood 1985, 122). The positioning of the hospital had a beneficial effect on the rural town. A pamphlet published by James Ingram and Son (1849) reveal that famous landmarks in Beechworth which included the Post Office, Gaol, Courthouse and Asylum "demonstrate the appreciation of Beechworth by the Government not only as as important district center, but also as a site unrivaled as a sanitarium". There were other locations in contention at the time, but ultimately Beechworth was chosen (Craig 2000, 33). Prior to the creation of the Asylum in Beechworth, those charged with having mental illnesses or, as it was termed, "insanity" were unable to be properly cared for in the Gaol (which is where they were often sent). John Buckley Castieau wrote, in 1861 for the Ovens and Murray Advertiser, that the Gaol was unable to properly care for those classified then as "insane" but that they would endeavor to treat them above the other inmates (which he notes is not always the case in other establishments). Castieau wrote this in favour of supporting the building of the Mayday Hills Hospital in Beechworth. It was stated that at the time the Mayday Hills Hospital was built, there were 83 prisoners kept in the Gaol who were to be rehoused to the Hospital on the grounds of "insanity". The classification as someone as "insane", in this period of time is a reflection on the inability to cure and understand illnesses of the mind during the mid to late 1800s. Opening on the 24th of October 1867, the Mayday Hills Hospital was originally named the "Ovens Lunatic Asylum", a title which is very much a product of its time. Whilst controversial, changes to the name is part of the history of the Hospital and can provide much insight into the understanding of mental illness throughout history and the use/disuse of this term provides information into the reception/changing opinions of mental illness in society. The Hospital would later become known as the "Mayday Hills Asylum" and/or "Mayday Hills Hospital" with the latter being the most commonly used title. An article in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser notes that on the 7th of March 1865, the foundation stone of the Hospital was laid (it would officially open in 1867) and that it was such a moment of accomplishment and joy for Beechworth that a letter to the editor even suggested that there should be a holiday dedicated to the day the foundation stone as laid. This reveals an extent to which the townspeople of early Beechworth valued the construction of the Hospital in their town. It provided the town with a sense of prestige and honour.At first glance, the remains of the Mayday Hills Hospital in Beechworth, Victoria, inspire tragedy, trauma and beauty. The buildings themselves, with their Italianate style Renaissance architecture designed by J.J. Clark (Craig 2000, 49 & Smith 2016, 203) reflect a bygone period of European and Australian history. The gardens provide a sense of tranquility and beauty. The experience of those within these walls remains a valuable area of study to provide a more complete understanding. This particular hospital is considered the fourth of its like and one of three identified as the largest of their kind. The Mayday Hills Hospital is a sister to the Kew and Ararat Asylums in Melbourne which are both located in relative proximity. Understanding the role of the Mayday Hills Hospital in Beechworth history is integral to understanding the development of the goldfields town, but also for providing important information as to the history of caring for, and the reception of, mental illnesses in Australian and wider European history. Mayday Hills provides a case study which can be researched through oral history, an analysis of the grounds/buildings and through images like this postcard which portray the structure in a highly deliberate manner. Images like this depict the strong façade of the Hospital and provide a glimpse into the tranquility of the gardens. This has been done deliberately to provide a sense of comfort and healing about the building to those looking from the outside. Further research into the importance of the Hospital in Beechworth and it's connection to the town will be supported through images like these kept in the Mayday Hills photo album in the collection of the Burke Museum.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper mounted on cardHandwriting reads: "Mental Hospital / Beechworth / Miss A. J. Ross / about 82 in 1944".mental asylum, beechworth, mayday hills, mayday hills hospital, victoria, mental health, history of mental illness, treatment of metal illness, asylum, hospital for mentally unwell, miss a.j. ross, nurse, staff, doctors

Set of nine Black and white postcards, from drawings, contained within Reg. Item 2526, pages 4 and 6 of early Ballarat, glued or pasted into the book. A lot of the postcards have edge damage. Include Sturt St., Black Hill, Ballarat Fire Station, Central State School, Wesley Church and Botanical Gardens, Mechanics Institute, Benevolent Asylum, Orphan Asylum, Ballarat East Town Hall, Academy of Music. Date of drawings - prior to 1870's?. trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, fire station, schools, wesley church, mechanics institute, orphanage

Letter from C. A Hogg regarding the details of completing a course at Ballarat School of MinesHandwritten letter in ink, on Gladesville Hospital for the Insane letterhead."Sire I would be glad if you would give me particulars concerning the length of course, subjects necessary, and cost which would be incurred in going through course at the Ballarat School of Mines. Any other informatoin would be gratefully received I remain yr sincerely C.A. Hogg MB" "Reply to 3-3-98" in black ink 127 in red ink (correspondence number)hogg, cladesville hospital for the insane, asylum, ballarat school of mines

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This photograph reveals how the photographer, Henry Christian, positioned himself to take the photograph from the angle in which he was interested. A skilled canoeist, an empty canoe is on the left of the photo that he apparently he used to access his vantage point. His subject, the Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, one climbed steps to reach the higher Yarra Bend bank. At the Studley Park end, the bridge descended via a staircase to reach the much lower bank. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This photograph reveals how the photographer, Henry Christian, positioned himself to take the photograph from the angle in which he was interested. A skilled canoeist, an empty canoe is on the left bank that he apparently he used to access his vantage point. His subject, the Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Studley Park end. The steps were requires due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This photograph reveals how the photographer, Henry Christian, positioned himself to take the photograph from the angle in which he was interested. A skilled canoeist, an empty canoe is on the left bank that he apparently he used to access his vantage point. His subject, the Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Studley Park side. The steps were requires due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Thought to have been used in the dairy at Sunbury Asylum and collected when Sunbury Asylum (Caloola) closed in 1992. The Sunbury Asylum became the Victoria University of Technology.White enamel bucket with pouring lip and graduated liquid measurement marks inside. No handle"1/2 Gal., 1Gal..."sunbury asylum, george evans collection

A white 4 page order of service with the words, ' Easter Sunday Celebrations. Procession of Witness and United Service of Thanksgiving in The Upper Reserve. Thank offering for Hospital and Benevolent Asylum.' Bolton's Print Bendigo. Date unknown.event, official, religion, lydia chancellor, collection, religion, event, community, church

Peter Collett was the stepson of Eric Boardman, who owner and produced the local newspaper, "Sunbury News" until it was taken over by Broadglen Publishing in 1965.It is an image of six nurses who worked at the Sunbury Asylum. They are dressed in uniform. Three nurses are standing and three are seated. There is a banner in front at their feet with the words "United We Stand" written across it. Black and white - unmounted.Hill Nurses/ 12 / Kitchen Cottage / 1918 P. Collett - written on the back in biro.sunbury asylum, nursing, kitchen cottage, p. collett., 1910s, george evans collection

Photographic portrait of Josiah Magor, member of the Old Colonists Association of Ballarat. He was associated with the Two Ton mine at Black Hill. He was involved with local charitable work, and was a life governor of the Orphan and Benevolent Asylum.josiah magor, old colonists' association of ballarat, old colonists' club

The Zig-Zag Bridge which was constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Initially it transported bluestone from the west side of the Yarra to the east during the construction of the Kew Asylum.Real photo postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. In the middle ground there is a rowboat.Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Gift from L Bennett"bridges -- river yarra, bridges - kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge

A number of houses were built within the Sunbury Asylum grounds to house administrators and staff, and their families, who worked at the asylum. After the asylum was closed down and the main asylum buildings were taken over by Victoria University, the surrounding land was developed for housing by the Urban Land Authority, the administrators houses were demolished.A black and white photograph of two bungalow style houses built along a formed but unsurfaced road. A Mini-minor car is parked on the grass outside the first house and a Holden sedan is parked by the curb outside the other house. There are trees growing along the nature-strip and in the background.Written on the back in penci: 1139-8lsunbury asylum, wishart, chas. h., george evans collection

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.John Hood was originally from London, and arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1842. He first dug for gold in Little Bendigo / Nerrina, in 1852. He died in 1909, a very old man, at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

This item was used in the Pharmacy Department of Sunbury Asylum [Caloola] prior to Asylum becoming a campus of Victoria University.A Long thin narrow glass measuring instrument with bulbous shape approximately halfway along. One end is pointed and it is open at both ends.Yellow band/brown band "20/cm3/ex..."sunbury asylum, sunbury, george evans collection

Taken circa 1870, depicting twenty-eight staff members divided by gender standing in front of the Beechworth mental asylum. Constructed between 1864 and 1867 to the designs by the Public Works Department (PWD) is the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum that was renamed Mayday Hills. The decommissioned asylum was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria and consisted of sixty-seven buildings, one thousand two hundred patients and five hundred staff members. The asylum was predominately inhabited by long-stay patients but there was active out-patients. The asylum was one of the first asylums to focus on treatment and rehabilitation instead of institutional confinement. At the asylum active works was considered imperative and workshops were located near the male accommodations and laundries and drying yards near the female accommodation. The asylum closed in 1995 and was sold to La Trobe University before being closed and sold again in 2011 to a private owner. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the importance of Beechworth mental asylum as the asylum demonstrates the changing approaches to the treatment of mental illness in Victoria from confinement to treatment and rehabilitation. Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card Reverse: 1997.2489/ Beechworthbeechworth, mental asylum, beechworth mental asylum, mental asylum administration building, mayday hills, mayday hills mental asylum, beechworth lunatic asylum

Document. Harry Biggs Collection. Blue writing on foolscap. The definition of the word 'asylum' from Chambers -- 1884 Encyclopedia. (3 copies.) - Random jottings on foolscap. - 1 page on foolscap relating to the Benevolent Society & the Industrial School period.organization, club/society, health, harry biggs collection, bendigo benevolent asylum history

Document. Harry Biggs Collection. Twenty-second celebration of Bendigo Hospital Sunday. A green pamphlet outlining the Committee for the year 1894 & the general particulars of the claims & positions of - - ' The Bendigo Gold District General Hospital and the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum.organization, club/society, health, harry biggs collection, bendigo hospital sunday, the bendigo gold district general hospital, the bendigo benevolent asylum

Taken on the 1st of April 1928 and copied from a private collection on the 27th of January 2010 the photograph depicts three well-dressed men and a small child standing around a fountain at the back of the administration building of Beechworth's 'lunatic' Asylum The asylum was constructed between 1864 and 1867 to the designs by the Public Works Department (PWD) and was later renamed Mayday Hills Mental Asylum. The decommissioned asylum was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria and consisted of sixty-seven buildings, one thousand two hundred patients and five hundred staff members. The asylum was one of the first asylums to focus on treatment and rehabilitation instead of institutional confinement. At the asylum, active work was considered imperative and workshops were located near the male accommodations and laundries and drying yards near the female accommodation. The asylum closed in 1995 and was sold to La Trobe University before being closed and sold again in 2011 to a private owner.This photograph is historically significant as it demonstrates the freedom and safety of those who visited the asylum while also highlighting this instutions mission to treat and rehabiliate patients instead on institutionalising them.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paperReverse: 7606-1/ Copied 27 Jan 2010/ Copied from private collection/ Inscribed on the back of original/ J.Pinfold 1-4-1929/ May Mental Hospital for the Insane. beechworth, beechworth mental asylum, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hosptial, mayday, mayday hills, mayday hills mental asylum, administration building, fountain

The Male Hospital in Sunbury was one of the buildings that was within the grounds of the Sunbury Mental Hospital, later known as the Sunbury Asylum, that opened on 1st December 1879 on She-oak Hill ( Jacksons Hill). Patients and staff from the Ballarat Asylum were transferred there. Prior to the establishment of the Asylum, the Sunbury Industrial School occupied the site from 1865. The Sunbury Asylum, later known as Caloola, continued to operate until the 1992.The Sunbury Mental Hospital was an important institution and was the main source of employment for Sunbury residents for 120 years. It was also one of a number of similar institutions that were established around Melbourne's outer rural centres.A sepia non- digital photo in post card format of a hospital building with verandahs along a section of the front and down the side. Two nurses are standing in front. There are circular garden beds in from of the building. A message dated 23/11.09 from Gregor to Cookie has been written on the back of the card.MALE HOSPITAL/SUNBURYsunbury mental hospital, sunbury asylum, caloola, the hill

Tanswells Commercial Hotel, Ford Street Beechworth.Black and white square photograph printed on gloss photographic paper.Obverse: National Trust of Australia, Victoria Reverse: 8/ BMM 8717.8/ Sir Rowan Delacombe -Tanswells 'The Butchers Arms'/ about 1900/ opposite Benevolent asylum. hotels album, beechworth, burke museum, tanswells, commercial hotel, sir rowan delacombe, national trust

Colourised owl photo postcard entitled;led 'Scene at Kew'. In the background is the Zig-Zag Bridge.Obverse: "Scene at Kew". Reverse: "Zig Zag Bridge adj[acent] Kew Asylum / now demolished / in this era / now called / Donated by Mrs B Challen"bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge, postcards -- kew (vic.)

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Easter fair: the annual Easter Fair was initiated in 1871 by Mr. J. Burnside and G. Aspinall. The fair was established to raise funds for the Bendigo base hospital and mental asylum. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Bendigo 1950s. Bendigo Easter Procession. Easter Monday was 7 April 1958. Photo of arena with horse act. The horse is balancing on a stool while a man is on its back cracking a whip. Grand stand and Bethlehem was Bendigo Asylum in back ground.Kodachromeevent, easter fair, bendigo easter fair, bendigo 1950s. bendigo easter procession. easter monday was 7 april 1958. photo of arena with horse act. the horse is balancing on a stool man back cracking whip. grand stand bethlehem bendigo asylum

The photograph shows the extent of Sunbury's development to the west of the town in the early 1980s. The settlement at this stage extended along either side of Gap Road for about 0.5 km beyond Elizabeth Drive.A coloured landscape photograph with rounded corners taken from Mt. Holden and looking towards the expanding town of Sunbury. The Melba Avenue drain which flows into Blind Creek is in the foreground. Sheoak Hill, the site of the former Sunbury Asylum is in the middle of the skyline.sunbury township, reservoir road, mt. holden, sunbury asylum, george evans collection

A photocopy of a Life Governor's recommendation ticket issued by the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum in 1883. The ticket entitles Mr. Peter Finn to recommend one case during the current year. Signed by the President and Secretary (both signatures illegible). Ticket Number: 962A.bendigo benevolent asylum, peter finn, 1883, life governor

North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. The view from the rear of 8 Kellett Grove predates the construction of the Eastern Freeway so provides a rare view of the area before it was built.Small sepia snapshot taken from the back yard of a house at 8 Kellett Grove, in what was then known as North Kew. A tower of the Kew Asylum on the top left of the horizon assist the viewer to recognise that the land to the left of the river is in Kew and Studley Park.Verso: NORTH KEW 1948 / Stamped 51019yarra river -- north kew, kellett grove -- north kew

Following a Royal Commission in 1854, the building of a new Asylum at Kew began in 1864. It was built to replace the Yarra Bend Asylum on the Fairfield side of the Yarra River. Work started in 1864 and was completed in 1872 at a cost of ₤198,334. Operating over a period of 116 years, and often renamed to take account of public sensitivities, the ‘Kew Lunatic Asylum’ was one of the largest asylums built in Australia. ‘Willsmere’ was finally closed in December 1988 and sold by the Government of Victoria in the late 1980s.A rare and historically significant photograph of female staff of the Kew Hospital for the Insane, in front of the central wing. The photograph is one of a pair donated to the Kew Historical Society by Frances Dorothea Van Brummelen (1931-2011) in 1994. Following her graduation as a social worker, Fran Van Brummelen joined the staff of Kew Cottages in 1969, and became senior social worker there in 1971. She remained at the cottages until she retired in 1994. Earlier, In 1987, with psychiatrist Cliff Judge, she founded the Kew Cottages Historical Society becoming its president. In 2002, the pair collaborated on the book Kew Cottages: the World of Dolly Stainer, which was later commended in the Victorian Community History Awards. Panoramic photograph of group of female staff in north courtyard, in front of Administrative Wingkew lunatic asylum, kew mental hospital, kew hospital for the insane, willsmere

This item would probably have been used in the dining room at the Sunbury Asylum (Caloola). The Sunbury Asylum closed in 1992 and is now the Sunbury Campus of Victoria University.A stained metal fork."VICT/GOVT"sunbury, sunbury asylum, george evans collection

Used at the Sunbury asylumPetticoat in unbleached flannel. Wide neckline and armholes blanket stitched in aqua wool. There are eight shaping darts (four front, four back) at the waist.Handwritten in black ink on the bias binding inside the hem, "F. E. Richards W. F. 2"costume, sunbury asylum, george evans collection

Used at the Sunbury asylumHalf-petticoat in heavy brown (with green and red threads mixed in) wool (flannel?). Cut from two uneven sized pieces of cloth and suspended from waistband of unbleached canvas. There are three rows of puckering (one deep, two narrow) in the fabric.Nonecostume, sunbury asylum, george evans collection