CALOOLA DUMP

115 WATSONS ROAD SUNBURY, HUME CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    CALOOLA DUMP - History

    Following the implementation of the Neglected and Criminal Children's Act of 1864, a 1,000 acre site was put aside on Jackson's Hill in Sunbury on which was developed the Sunbury Industrial School. This institution was designed to provide destitute or orphaned children with the skills necessary to care for themselves in adulthood.

    Provisions for the children were inadequate and illness was rife. It was estimated that around 10 percent of children died within the first year of operation, and this led to the school gaining the nickname of the Sunbury Slaughterhouse. After public outcry, and after numerous Royal Commissions into the Industrial School System the Sunbury Industrial School was closed.

    The site was redeveloped in 1879 as an asylum for the mentally ill and, having been substantially enlarged in the period 1891 - 1914, it reached 1000 patients at its peak. The 1920s the Health Reformation Act improved conditions and the site was maintained in use as a psychiatric hospital before becoming the Caloola Training Centre for the Intellectually Disabled between 1968 and 1992. It is now occupied by a number of organisations including Sunbury and Macedon Ranged Specialist School and Victoria University, although the latter is due to be replaced at the site by the Hume Anglican Grammar School in 2010.

    The dump could have originated with either of these stages in the site's development, but it would appear to have continued to be used into the 20th century.

    Interpretation of Site

    CALOOLA DUMP - Interpretation of Site

    The site lies on the south eastern side of the hill occupied by the buildings of the former Caloola industrial school and then asylum. It consists of ascatter of material, probably originating with these institutions, in a gully which leads down the south eastern side of the hill towards Jacksons Creek.

    Archaeological Significance

    CALOOLA DUMP - Archaeological Significance

    The material contained within the scatterprobably includes metal work, ceramic and glass fragments, brick fragments and wooden pads. Thescatter had previously contained much larger material, including car chassis and bed frames, but this was removedapproximately three years ago in preparation for the new path.

    It is probable that the dumped material extends beneath the surface, possibly to some depth given its location in a natural gully. The site therefore possesses reasonable potential to provide information regarding the day to day activities of the industrial school and asylum at the end of the 19th century.

    Historical Significance

    CALOOLA DUMP - Historical Significance

    The site is of historical significance for its potential todemonstrate day to day activity at the former Industrial School (the first purpose-built example of this type) and the Lunatic Asylum, both of which are represented by substantial physical evidence at the nearby Caloola site (H0937).

    Heritage Inventory Description

    CALOOLA DUMP - Heritage Inventory Description

    A dump of domestic and other artefacts, including ceramic, metal work and glassware. May relate to the industrial school and later asylum at Caloola.

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