AGY-1997 | George Street Asylum, Parramatta (1862-1913) State Hospital and Home for Aged and Infirm Men, George Street, Parramatta (1913-1936)

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On 13 March 1862 medical and administrative personnel were appointed to George Street Asylum, Parramatta (1), which began functioning as a Government Asylum for infirm and destitute men following the findings of the Report from the Select Committee on the Benevolent Asylum, Sydney (2), and subsequent Government assumption of responsibility for provision for the infirm and destitute. Previously the Committee of the NSW Benevolent Society which had maintained asylums at George Street, Sydney and at Liverpool. The main building of the George Street Asylum was completed in 1824 and had functioned as a barracks for the military, and later for convicts. (3)

In 1884 the Asylum accommodated 351 residents, and had acquired an adjacent building used as a Tweed Mill (4), which was converted for use as hospital wards and remained in use for this purpose until 1920 when it was demolished. (5)

After administrative responsibility for Government Asylums transferred from the Department of Charitable Institutions to Public Health in 1913, George Street Asylum became known as the State Hospital and Asylum for Aged and Infirm Men, George Street, Parramatta. (6)

During 1926 admissions to the Hospital numbered 1,746, with 239 remaining resident at the end of the year, and 22 patients remaining in the hospital division. Residents of Government Asylums who were able to work were expected to contribute towards a measure of self-sufficiency, at George Street a workshop produced clothing and manchester items. (7)

On 30 October 1936 admissions to the Hospital ceased, and on 2 November the residents began to be transferred to Lidcombe State Hospital, with the last transferred on 7 December. George Street State Hospital closed officially on 11 December 1936, and the building was handed over to the Resumed Properties Department. (8)

FOOTNOTES
1. NSW Government Blue Book 1862, p.28.
2. Report from the Select Committee on the Benevolent Asylum, Sydney, 7 January 1862, in Votes and Proceedings 1861-62, Vol. 2, p.910.
3. Health Dept, Histories of various NSW Government Hospitals 1879-1980, Folder for Parramatta Asylums, SRNSW Ref: [10/50590]; Illustrated Sydney News, 6 August 1881, pp.8, 11, known as the 'Parramatta Benevolent Asylum' or as the 'Benevolent Asylum, Parramatta', Sydney Morning Herald, 21 March 1883, p.2; It was located at the Old Barracks, Maitland Mercury, 24 June 1862, p.2.
4. Government Asylums for the Infirm and Destitute, Report for 1884, in Votes and Proceedings 1885, Second Session, Vol. 2, p.612.
5. Health Dept, Histories of various NSW Government Hospitals, op. cit.
6. Report of the Director-General of Public Health for the year ended 31 December 1913, in Parliamentary Papers 1914-15, Vol. 4, p.339.
7. Report upon the State Hospitals under the control of the Director-General of Public Health, Report for the year 1926, in Parliamentary Papers 1927,Vol. 2, p.950.
8. Health Dept, Histories of various NSW Government Hospitals, op. cit.