ABANDONED BUILDING
This building was commissioned by the Queensland Government when Queensland first gained statehood. This was a Women's Lunatic Asylum not politically correct to name something "lunatic" these days but was the name it was given in the old days
I read it housed 300 inmates and guards and has dungeons built underneath. On the top side the building is built high on a reach of the Brisbane River and stunning views at the back...
Funnily enough those in the dungeons would not have appreciated the views. Built on the river as the inmates were brought to the place by boat and in those days if escaped the only way out was on the river as the immediate surrounds would have been thick inhospitable bush.
Makes one pause at the priorities of Queensland in the day...this was the first public works comissioned by the then new Government so I have read.....
I have taken a bit of artistic liberty with the original photograph....
posted by Lizzie's Insomnia at
3:05 PM
14 Comments:
It would have been a masterpiece in it`s day..
I love the old style buildnings...They have so much character and a story behind each one...
Mandy, This building would have a story or two, dungeons underneath....was a Women's Lunatic Asylum housing 300 inmates and guards. Was the first thing the Queensland Government commissioned when became a State, they had priorities!!....Is on the banks of the Brisbane River and stunning river views from the back...would love to get inside....One of my sons works on the new construction Safelink into Brisbane and he told me to go and have a sticky...
Amazing that lunatic women were not just thrown into the river (such was the thinking of some people in authority at the time). At least they actually spent some govt. funds on them!
I really do like that moody atmospheric sky you've got happening there. Reminds me of a "Goosebumps" video intro.
Your parcel was dispatched today - may even be there tomorrow.
Thanks Cindy, Records of this place do not seem to be available but I would nearly bet on a drowning or three....The sky was taken before a spectacular hail storm here last year with wind and quite a few trees uprooted...I transposed the foreboding sky and a ghost in the window...and fiddled with the filters...This was with Elements, will have everything so dark and twisty with Photoshop will not even be able to see the photo....I will post a black scape and be amazed no one can see what genius has made it black....he he
My blood pressure is going up as I type with the desire to get into that building and search around. Love it.
Lucy you are of my mind..I saw a hole in the wire and was so tempted....I think will have to apply to the relevant Government Department as am just itching to get inside.
I'm glad to hear you fiddled with that photo! I tried to leave a comment last night about whether it was just me or could anyone else see a dark-haired girl in the top window. That was before you added the bit about it being a women's lunatic asylum. So your fiddling really did the trick in evoking the history of the place.
would have been a stately building in it's day. the vibes of pain and suffering are still there, highlighted by that sky. what a great pic
A spooky looking building. I bet if the walls could talk, you'd have some hair raising yarns. Good fiddling. Are they going to restore it or knock it down?
Diane,
It does not look anything is being done just falling into rack and ruin....I have looked about on the internet an can not locate any plans for restoration which would be a good thing to do.....sandstone from a quarry a little to the right below the building on the river banks and timber and iron...colonial Queensland at its best.
Our anglo history is so brief in this ancient land it is a pity a building like this is lost.
I will post a photograph of a building of the same era which has been kept in repair out on the plains by the owners....
Yevisha,
Thank you ...I have done a little research on the origins and history of the building and its inmates and do believe would have been a harrowing existence living within those walls .....in saying that believe no different from other mental institutions of that era and degree of enlightenment of the day.
Cheers,
Tazar,
You noticed....very observant of you also a wicked dragon just visible at the ghouls feet..I have a vivid imagination and unlike Cindy I am not an artist, would love to be able to express how I feel about certain images...not to worry the digital age is upon us and may be able to express my dark and twisty side wit h the aid of the pixel manipulation software..he he
Ive explored the walston house "the womens lunatic asulym" at night!! Lots of un, will hopefully post pics and vids up on the net soon
Drew,
Please give me the links to your videos....how did you get in?......I would love to get into that building...I also would love to see it restored. The old building in the botnic gardens was opened on Saturday, Queensland day ......and this, the other face on the coin, should be looked into? The other building built for the elite and well off of the colony and this building built to house those with no rights no money and no hope....We should have a reminder of not only the gracious living in those days but what hat to be endured by the disadvantaged.
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