Ladies Cottage & Nurses Quarters, Willow Court
(hosted by The Siisters – Betul & Defne Madakbas)

Welcome to one of Tasmania’s most atmospheric and storied heritage settings. We are Betul and Defne Madakbas (The Siisters), owners and stewards of the historic 1868 Ladies Cottage and the neighbouring 1911 Nurses Quarters within the Willow Court precinct in New Norfolk.

Willow Court (established 1827) is Australia’s oldest continuously operating mental health institution, and the Ladies Cottage was built as a private-room asylum for “superior class” women. These buildings carry layered, often difficult histories. We approach them with care, respect, and a commitment to thoughtful adaptive reuse—preserving original features (textured walls, timber floors, grand fireplaces, heavy doors with looking holes, and more) while slowly bringing the spaces back to life for community, culture, and connection.

Our venues are intentionally not polished, cookie-cutter event spaces. Restoration is ongoing (we’ve previously run events without full modern services), so experiences here feel intimate, raw, and personal. Limited availability means every gathering gets more of our attention and the buildings’ character.

What we’ve hosted

We’ve already opened the doors for a range of events that blend history, art, food, and community:

Open The Door – immersive site-specific exhibition by visual artist Brigita Ozolins and composer Dean Stevenson (text, suspended mirrors, and soundtrack responding to the women who lived here). Included guided tours, morning teas with Baker Dave, and special Australian Heritage Festival reopenings.
La Terra Sacra – powerful photographic exhibition by Dominic Romeo, shown during Dark Mofo within the Ladies Cottage.
Heritage and after-dark tours (including lantern-lit experiences through the Ladies Cottage, original Morgue, and New Norfolk Distillery tastings).

Community moments such as Dark Norfo (red-light event), floral installations (Avery Cartter Barron), outdoor movie, afternoon tea with MAMA Hobart, and smaller workshops and gatherings.

Host your next event here

We now welcome bookings for small private functions, celebrations, meetings, workshops, exhibitions, and unique experiences in either building. Guests often describe the spaces as holding secrets—exactly the kind of setting that makes an event memorable.

Whether you’re planning something intimate or culturally resonant, we’d love to hear your ideas and help shape something that feels true to this place.

Location: Ladies Cottage (5 The Avenue) & Nurses Quarters (3 The Avenue), New Norfolk TAS 7140
Contact: info@willowcourtnursesquarters.com.au / info@willowcourtladiescottage.com.au
Follow: @willowcourtladiescottage & @willowcourtnursesquarters

Preserving the past. Creating new memories. We look forward to welcoming you.

The Siisters xx

Contact the host of Candle-Lit Tour of Ladies Cottage + Distillery Tour & Tasting

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