VPRS 18806 Photographic Collection

Full description

This series consists of a collection of loose photographs from the Kew Mental Hospital (VA 2840 - also known as Willsmere Hospital from the 1970s). The photographs depict the buildings, facilities, staff, and residents of the Hospital.

The collection consists of two distinct sets of photographs. Set 2018.0185 was originally housed in a red vinyl photo album. These consist of some copies of early photographs of the Hospital when it opened in the 1870s, as well as photographs of residents, facilities, staff and events taken between 1950 and 1965.

Set 2018.0186 primarily consists of a series of black and white photographs taken at the centenary celebrations of the Hospital in 1972. These contain photographs of, among others, Superintendent Cyril Burt and Premier Rupert Hamer. They also show buildings and facilities, staff and residents, and other visitors to the centenary event. This set also contains 6 colour photographs of a new pharmacy from 1978, and 12 colour photographs of the Surgical Unit, likely dating from 1986.

This collection was transferred to PROV from the Kew Historical Society, where it had formed part of the Dr Fred Stamp Collection. It was donated to the Kew Historical Society by family of the late Dr Stamp, who was the last medical superintendent of Kew Mental Hospital.