Former Tasmanian asylum for women up for sale

If walls could talk the ones of a former mental asylum in Tasmania would surely have plenty of stories to tell.

In its heyday, Lachlan Park Asylum, or Ladies Cottage as it was more commonly known, was a place were “criminally insane females” were sent. Now it lies derelict and empty.

Hayden Pearce bought the asylum, as part of the Willow Court complex, with a three-year plan to restore and preserve the site.

But after seven years and a failed attempt to get funding from the federal government, Mr Pearce has decided to let the property go.

And he has been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest.

The property was originally listed for sale on Gumtree for $875,000, but due to the overwhelming response Mr Pearce is now looking to “negotiate a sale”.

The Georgian building,  about a 35 minute drive from Hobart in New Norfolk, has six bedrooms and one bathroom.

But the most interesting feature are the 30 cells,  which have been left relatively untouched since the institution was closed.

“It is an intact, as if you walked into it 50 years ago” Mr Pearce told Domain.

Some cells have fireplaces and were occupied by those whose families could afford to pay extra for comfort, others have more unique features left behind by their former inhabitants.

“One of the cells has Roman numerals and Latin scrolled all over the walls” Mr Pearce said.

“Obviously she was a very bored, learned woman.”   

Over the years artifacts such as letters and clothing, such as bonnets and convict caps, some of it labelled with the names of their former owners, have been discovered on the property and all are available as part of the sale.

Other buildings in the Willow Court complex have been re-purposed; the old chapel is now a coffee shop, the 1960s children ward is now a motel and the old morgue has approval to be transformed into accommodation where guests can stay on the old slabs.

Mr Pearce said he was also open to negotiating a lease or other agreement the with any parties interested in preserving the Lachlan Park Asylum.

“I have given all my other buildings a use, but I am running out of time now,” he said.

“It has got to be one of the most important [historic] institutions for females that there is in Australia.”