Willow Court Heritage Site Inc emerged as an evolution of the former Derwent Valley Council special committee, Friends of Willow Court (2012–2022). Building on the committee’s advocacy, the organization raises awareness of Willow Court’s national significance and its diverse, complex history.

Located in wulawali Lutruwita (New Norfolk, Tasmania) on the unceded land of the Linawina people, the Willow Court Asylum Complex spans 174 years of history. It began as a convict invalid depot in 1827, transitioned into an asylum for the insane, and later became a state-wide mental health hospital. It is nationally significant as “the only place in Australia where developments in the philosophy of construction of mental institutions are preserved in a continuous sequence.”

Willow Court Heritage Site Inc is dedicated to preserving, protecting, promoting, and educating about this challenging history. Its mission aligns with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and incorporates co-design principles, engaging individuals with lived experience of Willow Court and the broader Tasmanian community, whose cultural heritage is deeply tied to the site.

Through its work, the organization fosters community engagement to “remember the past to build a better present and future,” with a particular focus on supporting and empowering people with disabilities.