Visit
The Rozelle Hospital site in Sydney’s inner west is 61 hectares of exceptionally beautiful, undulating waterfront parkland, preserved by historical accident, but still under threat despite the Callan Park Act being put in place late 2002.
Its legal owner, the NSW Department of Health, is continuing a long process of closing or shifting the hospital’s services, with a planned close date of 2007. In the meantime many of the buildings and the heritage gardens are undergoing demolition by neglect. Hence the need for a Callan Park Trust.
The site incorporates many layers of archaeological, Aboriginal, historical, cultural, aesthetic, and environmental heritage. It contains many heritage buildings, including the original houses (1839 and 1842) of the two estates on which it is based; and the magnificent Kirkbride Block, completed in 1885 for the Callan Park psychiatric hospital (now the campus of Sydney College of the Arts).
The community, through the Friends of Callan Park, is campaigning to have the psychiatric hospital services maintained there, and the whole site formally dedicated as a multi-purpose metropolitan regional ‘working park’.
Callan Point
Callan Point on Iron Cove is one of many beautiful heritage sites which branch off from the Parramatta River.
Before western colonisation the area was an abundant food source for the Eora people. Although there is no physical remaining evidence of aboriginal cultural production at Callan Point, shell middens found in the area suggest the Eora people had found an ideal site in Callan Point.
During colonial times Callan Point was busy with sea traffic. Remaining rock carvings (not Aboriginal) seem to reflect events that occured from the late 1800’s through to the early 1900’s. The carvings suggest the passing of many cultures through Callan Point.
Since the construction of the Iron Cove Bridge taller ships have been unable to access the area.
Further information for people wanting to visit Callan Park.
A complete map and guide to Callan Park (1.1MB PDF download)