Parkside Lunatic Asylum

OK, full disclosure - I'm autistic, so I get completely OBSESSED with my work. Not just my own artwork, but the stories behind my inspiration.

I have a LOT of notes - I don't just take photos, then weave a tapestry. I DEEP DIVE!

So I decided to collate all my stories here - even if they don't end up in my artwork, at least I will have a record of them.

So for this post, I think I'll chat about the Parkside Lunatic Asylum, aka Public Colonial Lunatic Asylum of South Australia, aka Parkside Mental Hospital, aka Glenside Hospital.

The main clocktower building is currently home to the South Australian Film Corporation, and has been since 2011. I happen to work at SAFC, which is why I am so obsessed with the building and its history.

Pictured is my tapestry 'Threshold: Basement', which at the time of writing has been in two art prizes - firstly the 2025 Tatiara Art Prize, and currently in the Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize, winning the 2D Merit Prize!

My inspiration was the basement of the Clocktower Building. I couldn't find any information about what went on down here, I don't think it was anything sinister, but more of a storage area for supplies. Basements are usually pretty creepy, but I found this one pretty benign.

As this blog progresses, I will start documenting ghost stories that I have heard while working here, as well as some experiences of my own. But for now, this post is just an introduction to my obsessions ...