New – The Green Book website
Recent comments
- Donald Holdsworth on DRAFT COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
- Christine Hanrahan on Loss of Heritage Sandstone kerbs
- Juanita Mosterd on 2 Vernon Street saved from demolition
- Glenys Brown on Hunters Hill gardens open for inspection
Links
- Australian Conservation Foundation
- Australian Heritage Photographic Database
- Bushland and biodiversity
- Discover Hunters Hill
- Environment Defenders Office (NSW)
- Gladesville Community
- Glebe Society
- Green Book
- Habitat Network
- Historical photographic collection Ryde Library
- Hunters Hill Bushcare Volunteers
- Hunters Hill Council
- Hunters Hill Historical Society
- Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society
- National Trust of Australia
- Nature Conservation Council NSW
- Ryde Hunters Hill Flora & Fauna Preservation Society
- Sydney Living Museums
Gladesville Hospital
NOTE: Hunters Hill Trust does not conduct guided tours of Gladesville Hospital.
Tour information: Friends of Gladesville Hospital. Phone 0434 673101
Gladesville Hospital, originally known as Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum, was designed by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis. The first patients arrived from Liverpool Asylum and the Female Factory at Parramatta in 1838. The last in-patient services were closed in 1997. The site contains many buildings that are listed on the Register of the National Estate:
Medical Superintendent’s House Parramatta River, State Archives Office
Site plan 1886
Gladesville Hospital 1883, State Archives Office
Interior c 1883, State Archives Office
Superintendent Home vineyards 1892
plans for Gladesville Asylum Stables
plan Gladesville hospital improvements
Gladesville Asylum postcards, Broadhurst publishers ca 1900-1927
Female convalescent ward, built 1893 aka Digby House
Tarban Creek Asylum with Vineyard Zoo
Bld38 Gladesville asylum Source: State Library early 1900s
Unmarked graves
Health Department records show that 1,228 inmates are buried on the NE corner of the site in unmarked graves. Sydney Morning Herald reported that the names, dates of admission and dates of death of 923 patients are listed in the register but the identities of those in the first 305 graves are lost, if they were ever recorded.
CurRent use
The campus now accommodates a range of health and community services, including Northern Sydney Home Nursing, Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, St John’s Ambulance, Medical Council of NSW, Schizophrenia Fellowship, Health Education and Training Institute, Medical Council, Cornucopia Café, Giant Steps school.
The Medical Board of NSW which recognises the significance of the site that they now occupy, published an article on the history of Gladesville Hospital in its 2015 newsletter to the 32,000 medical practitioners registered in NSW.
Future plans
Friends of Gladesville Hospital keep a watchful eye over the site which is owned by the people of NSW and is managed by NSW Health. In 2012 NSW Ministry of Health engaged Worley Parsons to prepare a Master Plan for the future use of the site. Many people contributed to community meetings. There has been no further news.
The site has enormous historical, social, cultural and environmental value.
It also has commercial value and may be vulnerable, so we need to WATCH THIS SPACE.
Gladesville Hospital Conservation Plan 1994
For more information visit SPASM Museum at Building 6, Gladesville Hospital.
early landscape
Ward, State Archives Office
High tea for male workers
Orange race, Sports Day
Tennis match, 1953
Hospital industry: pillow making
Building 11, image by Sadarka 2009
Gate cottage, image by Sadarka 2009
Building 30, image by Sadarka 2009
Ward 18