Exploring Willsmere

Blog by Kew For You

Open House Melbourne was held on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August 2016 and Kew For You were lucky to take a tour of Willsmere, the former Kew ‘Lunatic’ Asylum that was established in 1870.

The main entrance of the former Kew ‘Lunatic’ Asylum/Willsmere Hospital.

Sitting above Yarra Bend Park and spread over 25 acres, the Italianate and French Second Empire buildings were designed with the aim of portraying Melbourne as a civilised and compassionate city. The design included innovative ‘ha-ha’ walls that retained the surrounding views without the feeling of being enclosed, but prevented patients from escaping.

Views from the only retained patient ward into one of the Inner Courts.

In 1993, Willsmere was converted to 155 private residences with the addition of 101 townhouses, however it still retains a heritage listing. The central administration block comprises a three-storey building with attic Mansard roof, with two double-storey wings extending to each side which include four-story towers, and courtyards lined with iron columned verandas.

One of the iron columned verandas that connects the original buildings through the Inner Courts.

In addition to the landscaped gardens, residents today also enjoy two tennis courts, three BBQ facilities, a 25m solar heated swimming pool, a toddlers pool, bowling green, a half-sized basketball court, gym, library and function room.

One of the central courtyards includes a bowling green.

View across one of the Inner Courts to the central wing that originally was home to hospital staff.

For patients that were particularly troublesome and could not be trusted to socialise with the other members of the facility, it was standard practice for them to be kept in isolation in ‘dungeons’, as pictured below. This was considered to be in their best interest at the time, so they could not hurt themselves or others.

One of the dungeon cells under the facility.

View out from the dungeons, through the iron bars.

Want to see what a renovated residence in the historic main building looks like? 106 Wiltshire Drive is currently for sale and includes five bedrooms over six floors. Or you can experience Willsmere firsthand by renting a room at the infamous facility through Airbnb.

To learn more about Willsmere, please visit www.willsmere.net

Would you like to write a guest blog for Kew For You? Please contact us.