Jacksons Hill cultural precinct – former asylum open days

By Steve Hart

To encourage more community feedback on how a section of the former lunatic asylum on Jacksons Hill can be used as cultural precinct, Hume City Council is opening it visitors.

During my visit to the female refractory ward on Saturday 20 April I was told how the building was taken over by weeds during the years it was abandoned by the State Government. Clean-up work began after it was handed over to Hume City Council under a lease arrangement in 2022.

The refractory ward, commonly known as Building 22, was first opened to house the criminally insane, but was used solely for women (records show many were not criminals). The building is a large rectangular affair with covered walkways, and a central building that’s been remodelled as a school theatre/exhibition space.

In one of the rooms is a display of past shows performed by members of the Boilerhouse Theatre Company.

A display by the Boilerhouse Theatre Company at Building 22, Jacksons Hill. Photo / Sunbury Life.

Modernised when in the hands of Victoria University (1992-2011), many of the building’s wards/cells now have metal framed glass doors. Most were locked during my visit.

However, the original padded cell was open. And stepping inside to stand next to a [broken] chair that looks as old as the building, I was pleased to cross the threshold back outside to the walkway (quick-smart).

The padded room at Building 22 with the only window being well out of the reach of those inside. Photo / Sunbury Life.

Having completed two tours of the facility, and taking in a display put on by the council, it is easy to see how this building could be used as workspaces – so long as tenants don’t want much of a view – the windows are too high, and the doors open up to the courtyard.

Still, if all you want is a space to work (in relative isolation), then it is clear this building fits the bill. And one can easily imagine a thriving community of creatives sharing ideas and collaborating in this historic environment.

But whatever decision is made by the council, we won’t hear about it until 2025-26 according to a flow chart on display at a temporary on-site visitor centre.