Former Boiler House - Royal Derwent Hospital / Willow Court

 

A major aspect of my passion in photography is documenting our built history for posterity, especially those places and spaces that are about to undergo change. Since documenting for my Tasmanian Art Deco & Modernism project over the past two decades I've witnessed much change in a relatively short period of time. I recently documented the former Royal Derwent Hospital boiler house that was part of a rich tapestry of buildings that provided heat to the vast complex. I captured a series of photographs prior to the chimney stack which was removed early this year. I’ve documented the former hospital site as part of the project and it's a place where many buildings have since been demolished and being there now is as if they never existed. For me it's a place where I look back and am reminded through the photographs I’ve made of the vast site over the years just how quickly things change and how two decades fly by! The power of photography and documenting the past provides an avenue in which to remember our past and be reminded of both our built and cultural landscapes and I am glad to have made a series of photographs of the former boiler house to add to my project and photographs of the former hospital. The beautiful flowers amongst the grass juxtaposed against this industrial landmark were wonderful for photography.