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Callan Park is a 104.5 acre, heritage listed site in the Municipality of Leichhardt, in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

The area was originally a private residence until being purchased by the Colonial Government and transformed into a psychiatric hospital, the Callan Park Lunatic Asylum for the Mentally and Criminally Insane, remaining in use until 1994 when it was relocated to new buildings on the site. After a period of extensive renovation, the Kirkbride Complex which housed the former hospital, is now occupied by the Sydney College of the Arts.

Location

Callan Park is located in the suburb of Rozelle on the border with Lilyfield to the west. It is situated next to Iron Cove on the northern side.

History

In 1839, Crown Solicitor and Police Magistrate John Ryan Brenan made a series of purchases to acquire the Callan Park land, which he named Garry Owen Estate. Brenan built a house on the land overlooking the Parramatta River, which he named Garry Owen house, and this was a local centre for social life until his bankruptcy in 1864. The land was purchased by Sydney businessman John Gordon who renamed the property Callan Park and subdivided the land ready for auction as a new waterfront suburb.

In a remarkable foresight, the entire area was purchase by the Colonial Government as a site for a new lunatic asylum. The main complex was completed in 1885 and continued to be used for patients until 1994. Sydney College of the Arts took possession of the building in 1996.

References

• Callan Park Website, [1], Accessed August 2006.
• NSW Heritage Register; Callan Park Conservation Area & Buildings [2]; Accessed October 2006.

External links

Coordinates: -33.865259° 151.162696°

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Street Directory, MSN Maps and Multimap.
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, WikiMapia and Terraserver.
• Local Images at InnerWest ImageBank
• Local History Collection, Leichhardt Council