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| Toll Gate and Benevolent Asylum, George Street South, Sydney, c. 1836 |
New South Wales Benevolent Asylums, 1821-1913
The Benevolent Society, founded in 1813, opened the first asylum for the poor, blind, aged and infirm in 1821 on the site of Central Railway Station.
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.
In March 1862 a Select Committee report found the Society's institutions seriously overcrowded and provision of care inadequate. In response to the report the Government assumed responsibility for the Benevolent Society's asylums for the infirm and destitute.
The Government Asylums for the Infirm and Destitute Branch was established in 1862 under the control of the Colonial Secretary's Department. The Branch administered asylums at Liverpool, Hyde Park Barracks and Parramatta.
On the 27 August 1888 control of the Government Asylums Branch became the responsibility of the Department of Charitable Institutions.
In 1888 Government asylums operated at Newington, George St - Parramatta, Macquarie St - Parramatta and Liverpool.
By 1911 the Branch administered State Hospitals and Asylums for the Infirm at Rookwood, Liverpool, Newington, Macquarie St - Parramatta, George St - Parramatta, Cottage Homes for Aged Couples - Parramatta and the Waterfall State Hospital for Consumptives.
On 1 March 1913 the Government Asylums Branch became part of Department of Public Health.
Search: Government Asylums for the Infirm and Destitute (State Archives of NSW)
- Boys Home Rydalmere
- Broadoaks
- Brush Farm Reformatory
- Carpentarian Reformatory
- Cottage Homes
- George Street Asylum Parramatta
- Glenfield Farm Home
- Liverpool Asylum
- Macquarie Street Asylum Parramatta
- Newington Asylum
- Rookwood Asylum
- name
- religion
- occupation
- birth place
- residence in New South Wales
- last address
- marital status
- age at marriage
- to whom married
- father's name
- birth place
- occupation
- mother's names and birth place
- nationality of patient
- details of pension
- names, ages, addresses and circumstances of children
- names and addresses of spouse, brothers and sisters
- details concerning treatment may also be recorded on the reverse of the admission card
Search: Index to Sydney Benevolent Asylum Admission and Discharges 1857-1900 (Sydney Benevolent Asylum)
- Admissions & Discharges 1857-1900 (Mitchell Library Ref D574-D581) (part)
- Index to Admissions and Discharges 1850-1884 (Mitchell Library Ref: *D655)
- Inmates Journals 1865-1880 (Mitchell Library Ref: A7233-4)
- Date of Admission
- Date of Discharge
- Surname and Given Name
- Age
- Notes [which may include information such as ship of arrival, date of birth or death in the asylum, details of other family members, cause of death, address, reason for admission etc.]
The surviving records of the Benevolent Asylum cover the admission and discharge of those who spent time there. There are also records of those who did not enter the Asylum but who received help with food and clothing in the form of 'out-relief'
Pictured: Toll Gate and Benevolent Asylum, George Street South, Sydney, c. 1836; Printed, Published and Sold, by J.G. Austin, 13. Hunter St. Sydney; Courtesy: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
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