Jeffery House

Today I had to go back to Parramatta to attend to more business. A miserable day in Sydney today with on and off rain and very cold wind.

I did not have time this morning to search through boxes for an umbrella so I hoped it would ease as I walked to my appointment, but it did not. So when I got off the train and began to walk I stopped by a cheap dollar store to buy one. I assume they would be making a lot of money today from umbrella sales.

After my appointment I walked with my new umbrella towards Parramatta Park but the sound of magpies in the trees turned me off the idea. Instead I present to you Jeffery House :-)

Today Jeffery House is used as a health clinic, but back in the 1940's it was part of the old Parramatta Hospital or Asylum. There are a few photos of the old hospital on google if you want to see more.
Jeffery House is protected for its historical significance, and I love the look of it.

The old asylum, from the information I have researched for you, split the patients between a suburb called Westmead (Which also has the hospital I was born in... ) and the rest went to Cumberland Psychiatric Hospital which is in walking distance from Jeffery House. I have been past there before. They do let some of the patients who aren't to serious out for some fresh air so I wouldn't suggest going around for a wander but I am a curious person so I dragged an old acquaintance around there when I found out the place existed three years ago.

I will not be blipping Cumberland out of respect for those inside, though it is a nice building. A bit of info that may creep the pants off some... If you come to parra you can go through the entrance to Cumberland hospital and go to the Wisteria Gardens. Wisteria was opened in 1906 for the superintendent of the "Lunatic Hospital" and wisteria's were planted by his daughter who brought them in from Japan. In the last two weeks of September the gardens are usually opened for the festival, no need to enter Cumberland then :-)

It actually isn't that scary... A lot of history surround those buildings including a female factory (where they put female convicts), in 1848 the female factory was proclaimed a lunatic asylum, later on it became an orphanage for girls when taken over by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

I'm pretty sure when I went past last time there was a nursing home across the street. Down the road a bit there is also an old cemetery I may visit again as it is pretty amazing to see how long some have been rested there.

I hope you enjoy reading about Jeffery House as much as I enjoy the building itself :-)

Stacy xx