Hospital & Asylum Records, 1840-1913

In 1821, the Benevolent Society, Australia’s first charity, opened the first asylum for the poor, blind, aged, and infirm. In 1825 the Liverpool Lunatic Asylum was established. This facility cared for the colony’s mentally until the asylum at Tarban Creek opened in 1838. In 1848 the old female factory at Parramatta became the “Convict, Lunatic and Invalid Establishment,” and by 1849 it was a public asylum for the reception and custody of the mentally ill. This collection includes registers of inmates, records of admission and discharge, and returns and reports from Liverpool, Tarban Creek, and Parramatta for various years. The content of the records varies depending on the record type. Some are just lists of patients, while others are more robust.