Liverpool Regional Museum

23/06/2026

Some more images from the early 1900s of the Asylum at Liverpool.

Image 1: Cancer Ward at the Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute. c.1900s.

Image 2: Ward at the Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute, c.1911.

Image 3: Dispensary, Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute, c.1910.

Image 4: Staff and others associated with Liverpool State Hospital and Asylum, c. early 1900s.

Images courtesy of State Library of NSW and Liverpool City Council Heritage Collection.

18/06/2026

GABRIELLE HANNEMAN (1957-2012)
A POLIO SURVIVOR'S STORY

Gabrielle Hannemann was born in Germany on 26 August 1957. She migrated to Australia with her parents and siblings when she was two years old.

In 1961, Gabrielle, better known as ‘Gaby’, and three of her siblings were struck down by a devastating illness that was sweeping through Sydney – Poliomyelitis. Gaby fell into a coma and when she regained consciousness, her world had changed forever.

While her siblings recovered, she was admitted to Prince Henry Hospital and went directly into the new positive pressure respirator, known as the ‘Iron Lung’. Her nervous system was damaged and she could not move her arms or legs but retained full feeling below her neck. Her diaphragm was also affected and she had difficulty breathing without assistance when sleeping. There was little hope for her survival, but Gaby beat the odds, growing up to live her life the way she chose.

Despite being dependent on care for everyday tasks such as eating, showering and dressing, Gaby learnt to breathe without a ventilator and to manipulate a long stick in her mouth to do her bidding. She worked part-time, raised money for charity and was well-known in Parramatta for being a huge Parramatta Eels supporter.

Gabrielle Hannemann died on 15 July 2012, at the age of 54.

We are lucky enough to have a child sized iron lung on display courtesy of our friends at Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum.

Please visit the Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum website for more of Gabrielle's story: https://princehenryhospitalmuseum.org/gabrielle-hannemann-a-true-survivor/

Image 1: Gabrielle Hannemann's birthday at Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, NSW, 1960s courtesy of Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum Collection
Image 2: Michael Waite

16/06/2026

An iron lung is a mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person's body and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space to stimulate breathing. It is a type of negative pressure ventilator. They were mostly used for treating polio and botulism.

The iron lung is powered by a motor. Its bellows suck air out of the cylinder, creating a vacuum around the patient's body and forcing the lungs to expand and take in air. When the air is let back in, the same process in reverse makes the lungs deflate.

The concept of external negative pressure ventilation was introduced by John Mayow in 1670. The first widely used device was the iron lung, developed by Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw in 1927. This design consisted of a large metal box with a set of bellows attached at one end to pump air in and out. The whole body was enclosed in an airtight chamber, apart from the head. A tight rubber seal supported the neck and ensured that air did not escape.

When a polio epidemic broke out in Australia in 1937, the cost of buying and transporting iron lungs all the way from the U.S. was so high that the South Australian Health Department asked biomedical engineer Edward Both to come up with a cheaper alternative. This respirator was made of plywood. It was not only cheap, but also easier to construct and transport. In some cases, it was in use within one hour of production.

We are lucky enough to have a child sized iron lung on display courtesy of our friends at Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum. They also have a talk scheduled for this Saturday with limited tickets available!

Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/from-isolation-to-innovation-smallpox-v-covid-lessons-we-have-learned-prince-henry-hospital-guardians-of-public-health

Image 1: Science History Images, Alamy Stock Photo
Image 2: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historic Archives
Images 3 and 4: Michael Waite

10/06/2026

DOCTOR JAMES PIRIE (1868-1943)
General Practitioner & Government Medical Officer

Doctor James Pirie was born and educated in Scotland. After migrating to Australia and marrying Miss Buntine of Gippsland Victoria, he purchased Doctor Beattie's medical practice in 1896.

Doctor Pirie quickly established his reputation as a wise and talented doctor known throughout the district. Considered sympathetic and understanding he often provided free medical treatment, food and other necessities to many homes where he encountered poverty in the course of his medical duties. For many years he served the people of Liverpool and neighbouring localities with skill and kindness.

He held numerous official roles, including Government Medical Officer and Area Medical Officer and regularly visited inmates at the Liverpool Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute, later known as the Liverpool State Hospital and Asylum for Men where he attended to outpatients. From 1923 Doctor Pirie conducted first aid classes for the St John Ambulance Association at Canley Vale, Liverpool, and Cabramatta and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the association. In 1941, acknowledging his significant contribution to the association and the community, he was appointed a ‘Serving Brother of the Order of St John of Jerusalem’; a distinction awarded to a select few Australians.

The Dr James Pirie Community Centre opened in 1945 as a baby health centre which continues today as a community welfare resource providing educational and care services.

IMAGE: Doctor James Pirie c1897, Museums of History NSW State Archives Collection

08/06/2026

UPCOMING TALK

Join Adrienne Pearson (Honorary Secretary Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association Est. 1960) as she discusses public health responses and lessons learned through innovations such as the polio era ‘Iron Lung’ and vaccine archives.

Adrienne will be joined by Prince Henry-trained nurses, Leone Dunn and Maria Luff, who will share their experiences caring for patients in Iron Lungs to supporting those with AIDS and how the hospital managed a variety of infectious diseases.

There are only a handful of tickets left to this talk so book sooner rather than later!

📆 Saturday 20 June
⏰ 11am-12:30pm
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/from-isolation-to-innovation-smallpox-v-covid-lessons-we-have-learned-prince-henry-hospital-guardians-of-public-health

Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum

Liverpool Regional Museum preserves and promotes Liverpool's cultural heritage, history and stories

05/06/2026

Liverpool State Hospital and ​Asylum for Men​ 1913-1958

These images show some examples of what life would have looked like at Liverpool State Hospital and Asylum for Men. Operating under the model of self-sufficiency, the Asylum had piggeries, an orchard and a dairy. They produced enough for staff and residents, and at times, enough to send consignments and generate profit​.

The piggeries in 1918 were described as the “most up-to-date in the state”. However, an outbreak of swine fever in October 1918 caused the death of 150 pigs and required the slaughter of the remaining 479. The piggery was dismantled and replaced by a vegetable garden.

Liverpool State Hospital and Asylum closed in 1958, ending 107 years of service to aged, sick and destitute men from all parts of the world.

Discover more histories and images of care in our current exhibition 'Handle with Care, looking after Liverpool'.

Image 1: Liverpool City Council Heritage Collection, c. early 1900s
All other images: NSW State Archives Collection, 1918

03/06/2026

It's our birthday today! Pay us a visit, wish us a happy 37th birthday and view our current exhibition 'Handle with Care, Looking after Liverpool.'

On this day in 1989, Liverpool Regional Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time. Originally called Liverpool Bicentennial Museum, the museum was opened as part of Australia’s bicentennial celebrations.

These photographs show the construction of the museum in 1988 and its location next to the Macarthur Country Tourist Centre.

27/05/2026

Yesterday, Liverpool City Council held its annual National Sorry Day event, to commemorate the Stolen Generations, at Liverpool Regional Museum. It provided an opportunity for our community to acknowledge the profound impact of the Stolen Generations and to honour the strength, resilience and ongoing journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week until 3 June. The week marks two important historical dates, the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the 1992 Mabo decision. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

The Liverpool Local Government Area encompasses the land of various First Nations groups.

Liverpool Regional Museum stands on the traditional lands of the people of the Tharawal Nation and we acknowledge the land was also accessed by the Cabrogal clan of the Dharug Nation.

The Collingwood precinct, located behind the museum, was a significant meeting place for First Nations people. It was also an elevated vantage point enabling Country to be observed and monitored. This land continues to hold great cultural and spiritual significance.

25/05/2026

Early photos of the Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute, circa early 1900s.

This building had been used as a hospital since roughly 1825 (exact date unknown), changing hands from the government to the Benevolent Society of NSW, back to the government in 1862.

The Government Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute (1862-1913), provided a refuge for men who were ill or down on their luck​. By 1871, Liverpool Asylum had developed a reputation as the most professionally managed institution in the colony of New South Wales​.

Despite this, residents of Liverpool were becoming less tolerant of the presence of the Asylum in their town, due to the increased number of consumptive and cancer patients​.

These photographs show different views of the Asylum, taken from Bigge Park.

Photograph 1: c.1900
Photograph 2: c.1906
Photograph 3: 1910

21/05/2026

For National Volunteer Week we wanted to spotlight the Busby/Liverpool Hospital Auxiliaries. They loaned the museum some of their handmade objects for display in our current exhibition 'Handle with Care, looking after Liverpool'.

The Liverpool Auxiliaries were founded in 1957, the Busby Auxiliaries in 1984, they merged in 2016. The Auxiliary Shop, operating from Liverpool Hospital, sells books, generously made handcrafted goods and gifts donated by the community. The shop is run and managed by volunteers, with all proceeds invested in local healthcare.

From 2007-2025, the auxiliaries have raised over 1 million dollars for Liverpool Hospital. These vital funds have been able to purchase lifechanging and lifesaving equipment and is a testament to the dedicated volunteers of the Busby/Liverpool Hospital Auxiliaries. The second image shows the Sir Norman Nock Rose Bowl, awarded to the Busby/Liverpool Hospital Auxiliaries in 2024, for the most funds raised per member by a metropolitan hospital auxiliary.

The United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW Inc. have been fundraising, providing support and championing public hospitals and health centres since 1933. They operate through 161 local member branches within the twelve regions of NSW and fundraise through donations, gift shops, cafes, raffles and more. The funds purchase medical equipment, additional training for nursing/medical staff, accommodation and necessary items used for general health care needs.

Image 1 and 2: Michael Waite
Image 3 supplied by the Busby/Liverpool Hospital Auxiliaries, showing their shop at Liverpool Hospital