A Convict History: The Tale of Two Asylums

Du Cunzo has argued that: ‘Every aspect of the environment that people have purposely shaped according to cultural plans comprises material culture’. Nineteenth century lunatic asylums in Australia which are the focus of this study are examples of buildings that are very much material culture in this context. In this study the buildings and their use (i.e. the rooms and spaces provided) form the material culture which can be examined to understand attitudes towards the insane, and in particular towards the convict insane of the penal colonies of Tasmania and Western Australia.