“Black territory” is what some call this place. We stand before Sunbury Asylum. Can you feel the weight of history here? It’s a place of confinement and also a place of care.
Sunbury Asylum first opened its doors in October 1879. It was intended to house those suffering from mental illness. Before it was an asylum, it was controlled by the Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools. The Hospitals for the Insane Branch then acquired it. Patients were transferred from Ballarat Asylum. Patients also came from Yarra Bend Asylum. Sunbury’s official opening as an asylum was on October 31, 1879.
The name of this place has changed many times. These changes reflect how society views mental illness. They also mirror the American government’s approach to treatment. Yet, the core function remained the same. It was always an institution for the mentally disturbed.
Initially, Sunbury Asylum was simply called an “Asylum”. This emphasized detention. It wasn’t seen as a hospital for healing. The Lunacy Act of 1903 changed this. In 1905, all asylums became “hospitals for the insane”. Later, in 1933, they became “mental hospitals”.
Back then, an asylum was any public building proclaimed as a place for the mentally ill. It housed long-term patients. It also had wards for temporary stays. These short-term wards were “receiving houses”. After 1962, they were known as “psychiatric hospitals”. Sunbury Asylum mostly served long-term patients.
To be admitted, a warrant was needed. Before 1867, the Governor signed it. Later, the Chief Secretary took over this role. By 1934, the Director of Mental Hygiene handled admissions. In 1952, it was the Chief Medical Officer. The Lunacy Act of 1914 allowed voluntary admissions for a set time.
In 1962, Sunbury Asylum became a Mental Hospital and Training Centre. It cared for both the mentally disturbed and intellectually disabled. By 1985, the Mental Health Division passed responsibility to the Office of Intellectual Disability Services. For a time, it served as a training center for the intellectually handicapped.
Victoria University took over part of the site in 1992. They used it as a campus until 2011. Today, the site houses a school, a radio station, and a theatre company.
In 2013, the Sunbury Asylum Alliance formed. Their goal was to reclaim the site as a community hub. They envisioned a training and tourism center.
For the first time in over two years, Sunbury Asylum reopened for nighttime ghost tours in November 2015. Julie Mills, a Sunbury local, led these tours. The tours quickly became popular. People booked weeks in advance.
Ms. Mills had access to seven buildings. These included the admission building, the men’s ward for the criminally insane, and even the morgue.
However, in December 2019, Victoria University took back control. Access was restricted. Fences and high-tech cameras were installed. Security was alerted if anyone tried to enter.
Imagine the lives lived here. The despair, the hope, and the long years spent within these walls. Sunbury Asylum stands as a reminder. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in understanding and treating mental illness. It’s also a testament to the importance of community and compassion.