Melbourne botan. Gardens
28/6/66
Sir
It having come to the knowledge of the Trustees of the Royal Park that the building used lately as a temporary lunatic Asylum has become vacant I have the honor by direction of the trustees to point out for your consideration that possession may be given of this building to the Trustees.
The unfitness of the building alluded to for the safe custody of Lunatics is generally1 only lately three of them escaped, one entered a house in the vicinity occupied by women & children and some time elapsed before he was pursued by a keeper, and thus the safety of the family became actually jeopardized Many houses have been erected near the building, where the families of working men are left without protection during the day hours, thus it is highly probable, that some serious accident will happen if insane if insane2 people should continue to be allowed on the spot.
The Trustees direct me to draw your attention to the circumstances under which the building was allotted to to3 its temporary purpose and they express now a hope, that you will be pleased to allow it to revert to them and that the key may be given to the Ranger of the Park.4
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obed. servant
signed F. Mueller
Hon. Sec. to the Trustees of the Roy. Park
The honorable the Chief Secretary
Please cite as “FVM-66-06-28,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on