Prior to being opened as an asylum, Sunbury was controlled by the Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools (VA 1466).

This title emphasised its function as a place of detention rather than a hospital which provided treatment for mentally ill people who could be cured.

An asylum or hospital for the insane was any public building proclaimed by the Governor-in-Council and published in the Government Gazette as a place for the reception of mentally ill persons.

In 2013, a group known as the Sunbury Asylum Alliance was established with the aim to reclaim the site for a community, training and tourism hub.

Ghost Tours of the Asylum started back up on November the 14th 2015 being led by Sunbury woman, Julie Mills.

In December 2019, a phone call made to book a tour confirmed that Victoria University are no longer allowing access to and have taken control of the buildings.