Author Topic: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS  (Read 1206 times)

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« on: January 07, 2022, 11:01:45 AM »
Willow Court is the oldest Asylum in Australia. It was once known as the Royal Derwent hospital that opened in 1827 built by convicts.

Willow Court became a necessity for the area after it was realized that many convicts were suffering from mental health issues. The asylum was to see a lengthy life, becoming the longest continually run asylum to operate in Australia, remaining open until late 2000. Today, the asylum sits largely empty and abandoned. Though some of the spaces have been repurposed by local businesses, others have been left empty and to rot. Many say, that spirits are the only ones to still roam their halls.

to be continued.....

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2022, 11:02:39 AM »
Willow Court Asylum is a fascinating place with a great deal of historic value. It is also a place that many believe to be haunted by its past. One area where people claim to have had various unexplainable experiences is the Criminally Insane Men’s Building. This area housed some of the asylum’s most dangerous individuals. So, it is unsurprisingly a place where some people have reported seeing shadow figures in hallways. The Criminally Insane Female’s Building is also said to have its fair share of activity. Here, many people have heard disembodied voices and even what appears to be footsteps running down the main hallway.

to be continued....

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2022, 01:38:27 PM »
Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 28 November 1924, page 11 newspaper reported the following.....

MURDER AT ASYLUM.

Inmate Kills Another Patient.

HOBART, Thursday. -A tragedy oc-curred at the New Norfolk Mental Hospital this morning, when Ivan Smith, an inmate, viciously attacked and killed a fellowpatient, Harold Solomon, aged about 52 years, with a piece of green firewood, about 3ft. long. After Smith struck Solomon, he dragged him to a drain, where Smith, was found washing bloodstains from the piece of wood. The discovery was made, by an attendant, who heard groans. Other attendants were ordered to the scene, and as one approached Smith picked up another piece of wood, and struck at him, missing him by inches. Smith became extremely violent, and several attendants were required to remove him.

It is understood that two distinct blows were struck, one on the back of Solomon's head and the other at the side of the head, causing a fracture of the skull, and making death almost instantaneous.

Kanacki




Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2022, 01:47:48 PM »
Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 14 November 1932, page 8 newspaper reported the following.

HOSPITAL FATALITY

New Norfolk Asylum

Inmate's Suicide

A fatality occurred at the Mental Hospital, New Norfolk, on Saturday, a woman patient having died as the result, it is understood, of self-caused strangulation with portion of her clothing.

The matter was reported to the Coroner. An inquest will be conducted at 3 p.m. to-day.

Was it suicide or Murder?

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2022, 01:55:31 PM »
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Wednesday 18 April 1906, page 3 newspaper reported the following.

HOBART. SUICIDE IN NEW NORFOLK ASYLUM.

Hobart, Tuesday. — Sub-inspector Browne advised the Police Department to-day that Stephen Hoggett committed suicide by hanging in the asylum, at New Norfolk, last night.

Kanacki


Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2022, 01:58:42 PM »
Tasmanian News (Hobart, Tas. : 1883 - 1911), Tuesday 8 October 1907, page 4

SUICIDE AT NEW NORFOLK

PATIENT HANGS HIMSELF.

It Is learnt that an Inmate ot the Hospital for Insane at New Norfolk, named Samuel Beamish, committed suicide some time last evening by hanging himself, Very few particulars are to hand regarding the incident, but it Is understood that the unfortunate man did away with himself In the airing-court, using a wire line for the purpose. An Inquest was to be held at the Asylum this afternoon. Later. At the Inquest a verdict of 'Death from hanging,' was returned, a rider being added lo the e&eel that no blame was attachable to any of the officers of the institution.

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2022, 03:21:51 PM »
Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 2 October 1877, page 3 newspaper reported the following.

THE LATE SUICIDE AT NEW NORFOLK ASYLUM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCURY.

SIR,—The sad occurrence of a suicide at this institution on the morning of the 23rd instant was painful enough, in all its circumstances, without needing misrepresentation to make it worse.

In Mr. T. A. Reynolds' letter published in your issue of Friday last he says (line 23) " with an iron staple with a double rope hanging down about two feet, or rather more. The above rope belongs to the window, and, I should think has been there, may be for years, so that all was ready with an easy way of getting at it, etc." Now, Sir, that rope was never on the window until the unfortunate woman took it off the bedstead and

placed it there ; and I explained this fully to Mr. Reynolds and his brother on the 25th inst., when showing them the locus in quo, there was no second piece of rope, as he states, until after she was cut down, which divided the original piece that she had unlaced from the bed. I cannot think Mr. Reynolds has wilfully misrepresented the facts, but presume he did not precisely understand the explanation I gave him as to how the suicide was accomplished.

The window is not moved with a rope, as he supposes, but with an iron rod kept for the purpose. I hope you will be kind enough to insert this explanation.

I remain, sir, yours truly,

G. F. HUSTON,

Was there more to this alleged suicide or cover up by authorities?

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2022, 03:31:48 PM »
But it was not just inmates that committed suicide.

Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Wednesday 7 April 1915, page 11 newspaper reported the following.

CLERK'S SUICIDE

R. N. Atkinson, a clerk in the New Norfolk Asylum, committed suicide to-day in a most deliberate manner. He placed the muzzle of a military rifle in the centre of his forehead, and discharged the weapon by means of a gun. The top of his head was blown off.

Does his ghost still haunt the married staff quarters of Willow court?

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2022, 03:49:44 PM »
For those guests who cannot see the pictures I suggest signing up to this wonderful forum as you will have an amazing visual insight into haunted places in Australia and much more....

The following pictures below shows the inside and outside the historic old asylum.

kanacki

Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2022, 03:54:13 PM »
Strange enough many people who visit the site today experience a choking sensation.

In early days there was reports of patients being suffocated with their pillows. How many actually died from this is not known?

In the picture below is the room where one women hanged herself from the window.

Kanacki


Offline KANACKI

  • Senior Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 4353
  • Kanacki ceisiwr o'r ateb
Re: Ghosts of Willow Court Asylum: New Norfolk: TAS
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2022, 10:06:21 PM »
I can imagine that several readers here has experienced paranormal activity there?

Kanacki

 


SMF 2.0.18 | SMF © 2021, Simple Machines | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
SimplePortal 2.3.3 © 2008-2010, SimplePortal