Front facade of Kew Asylum building, now private residences.
Image: Meg Lomax
Source: Meg Lomax
Question: I am doing historical research in the Kyneton Cemetery. I have come across the grave of W.A. Ansley, dated December 27, 1902. The headstone was put in place by the staff at the Kew Asylum. W.A. Ansley was listed as a clerk in the burial register. Is there any way to get any further information about him, specifically to confirm whether he was staff or a patient?
Answer: Patient records for Kew Asylum are held by the Public Record Office of Victoria (PROV) – a selection have been digitised and can be viewed online. Have a browse of their finding aid PROVguide 58 Education, Health and Welfare – Mental Health Records.
What is available online from PROV is only a small percentage of their holdings – they do hold more records on staff and patients at Kew Asylum, and as a state institution, PROV is where all extant records are held, so it may be a case of you visiting PROV in person and ordering records to look at in the reading room there.
They do have an archivist on duty most days of the week, either between 10:00am and 12:00pm, or 1:30pm to 3:30pm, but you can call and check first when they are available for consultation.