This is an imperfect and hastily-taken photograph of my place of employment. I work in the oldest surviving building of Fremantle hospital, The Knowle, which is listed on the State Heritage Register as well as with the National Trust of Australia. It is a beautiful two-story building with large rooms, huge doors, sweeping second-story verandas and charming ceiling-high windows.
It was originally built as a residence for officers employed at Fremantle Prison in the 1850’s. Since then, it has become part of Fremantle Hospital, as an insane asylum, general hospital ward, matrons/nurses’ quarters and, finally, administration block. There are many popular stories about the building being haunted, and it is very, very eerie after hours. My office is in a room which was likely a ward and sometimes I wonder about how many crazy people died in it before recent history.
I really would like to take a then/now photograph of the block, compared to early black-and-white prints, but, unfortunately, the extensions to the rest of the hospital have all but completely surrounded it.
Perhaps when Fiona Stanley opens, dilapidated parts of the 1950’s-1970’s extensions will be demolished, leaving only the historically significant buildings and the recently built psychiatric block. I’m really looking forward to documenting that, if and when it happens.
(Source: tiradia)
