Agency:
Royal Derwent Hospital
Agency Number:
Start Date:
01 Jan 1827
End Date:
30 Nov 2000
Description:
To provide in-patient treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons, including treatment of alcoholics. ;;;;Lunatics were sent to the Asylum in Sydney until the separation of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land in 1824. Thereafter they were housed in the Colonial Hospitals. ;;;;An Invalid Depot, with a small hospital to treat periods of acute illness and serve the local community, was established at New Norfolk. The first invalids were admitted on 2 June 1827. A Lunatics Ward was added two years later and the first admissions were on 8 April 1829. Initially the inmates were all male. The first female admission, to the lunatic ward, was on 14 January 1831. In 1832 Lt-Governor Arthur decided to concentrate all lunatics at New Norfolk. The new buildings, finished in 1834, could house 110 male and 20 female invalids and 40 lunatics of each sex. ;;;;As a result of overcrowding the invalids were transferred to other invalid stations attached to convict depots in 1837 and thereafter the establishment at New Norfolk was used predominantly for the treatment of mental diseases.;;;;Changes in the name of the Institution since that date have reflected changes in community and/or government attitude towards mental illness.The principal name changes, dated as accurately as possible, are as follows: Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk 1829-1859, Hospital for the Insane, New Norfolk 1859-1915, Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk 1915-1937, Lachlan Park Hospital 1937-1968, Royal Derwent Hospital 1968 - 2001. Developments within the Asylum/Hospital also reflected changing community attitudes. ;;;;In the early years, however, the most notable influence on the Asylum was the cyclical nature of the Colonial economy. Pressure on the Asylum's resources was only resolved by further discharges of invalids. All female invalids were transferred to Hobart Colonial Hospital in 1846 and the remaining male invalids in 1848. That year general hospital treatment for the local community also ceased. Henceforth New Norfolk was exclusively a mental institution. ;;;;Both free settlers and convicts were treated at New Norfolk, although violent convicts were transferred to the Asylum established at Port Arthur. On 1 October 1855 the Asylum was transferred from the Imperial to the Colonial establishment. Overcrowding was again relieved by transfers, all remaining convict inmates being moved to Port Arthur. From then on overcrowding could only be relieved by new buildings or extensions to existing ones, a constant source of tension between the Colonial Government and the Board of Commissioners appointed to supervise the operation of the Asylum. Indeed, as late as 1880 the Commissioners felt compelled to point out, in their annual report, that the need for a Hospital for the Insane would not pass with the passing of the generation of ex-convicts. ;;;;The Insane Persons Hospital Act, 1858 (22 Vict. No. 23) reconstituted the Commissioners and established a legislative framework for the Hospital. By 1864 the Commissioners were able to report that separate cottages had been erected for men, women and boys of the "better class", that many of the walls had been removed and that recreations had been introduced. These changes were not permanent, however, as economic pressures constantly forced changes.;; ;;Tensions with Government came to a head in 1883 with the establishment of a Royal Commission. Its recommendations were ignored, most probably because it criticised the Government for its neglect and poor funding. The following year a Specialists Committee was established and its report repeated the critisisms of the Royal Commission. The Government's response was to legislate in 1885 (49 Vict. No. 35) to abolish the Commissioners. Much of their executive power devolved upon the Medical Superintendent and Official Visitors were appointed. The duties of the latter were largely limited to reporting on periodic inspections. ;;;;During the 1890's the surviving convict insane, who had been housed at the Cascades since the closure of Port Arthur, were transferred to New Norfolk. The majority came in 1890. Those classified as criminally insane were initially transferred to a Hospital for the Insane established within the Campbell Street Gaol.This was closed in December 1893 and its 27 patients were transferred to New Norfolk. Once again New Norfolk was the only Hospital for the Insane in Tasmania.;;;;After World War I a complementary institution was developed on land belonging to the Millbrook Estate which had been suggested for addition to New Norfolk on several occasions. The Millbrook Rise Psychopathic Hospital opened in 1934 and for the first ten years its medical staff were provided by what had become Lachlan Park Hospital. The relationship continued to be a close one, with patients moving between the two hospitals according to their condition and needs. Lachlan Park became the Royal Derwent Hospital on 27 March 1968 and absorbed Millbrook Rise on 1 July that year.;;;;Even in the 20th century there were periodic Royal Commissions and Committees of Enquiry and progress was slow and halting. Specialist training for the staff was commenced in 1919 but abandoned two years later. Although "activities" had been provided since the 1860s occupational therapy was not formalised until 1936 and occupational therapists were not appointed until 1946. The first social worker followed in 1949. The most recent enquiries into the Royal Derwent were in 1972 and 1979.;;;;Possibly the most dramatic change was the establishment, by the Mental Health Services Act 1967, of a Board of Management for the Royal Derwent. The Board, which came into being on 1 July 1968, brought the Royal Derwent into line with the other hospitals in the State.;;;;Changing attitudes led to the separation of facilities for the intellectually disabled from those for the treatment of mental illness and responsibility for the former was transferred to the Department of Community Services in 1990 as the Willow Court program.;;;;During the 1990s attitudes to the long-term treatment of mental illness changed and the wards at the Royal Derwent were progressively closed as treatment and support were made available through health facilities located in the wider community and wards were opened in the Royal Hobart and Launceston General Hospitals to treat acute psychiatric cases. The institution was effectively shut down in November 2000.
Legislation Administered:
The legislation governing the hospital has always been administered by the agency controlling it.;;
Legislation Creating:
Administrative action (Imperial) created the original lunatic asylum but subsequent name changes had a legislative basis.;;By proclamation under the Insane Persons' Hospitals Act 1858 (22 Vict. No. 23) the name was changed to the New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane (HTG 4 January 1859, p. 39).;;The Mental Diseases Hospitals Act 1915 (6 Geo. V No. 8, Section 2) changed the name to Mental Diseases Hospital as of 28 October that year.;;On 20 May 1937 the Governor revoked the 1859 proclamation and, again using Section 2 of the 1915 Act, proclaimed that the hospital now be known as Lachlan Park Hospital (TGG 25 May 1937, p. 1013).;;The name Royal Derwent Hospital was granted by Royal Decree on 27 March 1967.
Legislation Abolishing Agency:
Administrative action. Sale of the site was authorised by the Royal Derwent Hospital (Sale of Land) Act 1995.
Functions Performed:
Health care
Controlling Agencies:
Governor's Office (TA315) | 01 Jan 1825 |
Commissioners of the Hospital for the Insane (TA980) | 01 Jan 1859 | 05 Dec 1885 |
Charitable Grants Department (TA21) | 01 Jan 1872 | 31 Dec 1934 |
Department of Public Health (TA19) | 06 Jan 1904 | 01 Aug 1956 |
Hospital for the Insane Department (TA875) | 01 Jan 1907 | 31 Dec 1915 |
Mental Diseases Hospital Department (TA876) | 01 Jan 1915 | 31 Dec 1920 |
Division of Mental Hygiene (TA11) | 01 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1956 |
Division of Mental Health (TA12) | 01 Aug 1956 | 02 Apr 1963 |
Division of Psychiatric Services (TA13) | 02 Apr 1963 | 01 Jul 1968 |
Board of Management - Royal Derwent Hospital (TA155) | 01 Jul 1968 | 30 Nov 2000 |
Previous Agencies:
Hospital for the Insane, Cascades (TA336) | 01 Jan 1877 | 31 Dec 1890 |
Millbrook Rise Psychopathic Hospital (TA469) | 21 Feb 1934 | 01 Jul 1968 |
Hospital for the Insane, Hobart (TA885) | 06 Aug 1890 | 31 Dec 1893 |
Related Agencies:
Invalid Depot, New Norfolk (TA982) | 03 Apr 1827 | 20 Jun 1848 |
Millbrook Rise Psychopathic Hospital (TA469) | 21 Feb 1934 | 01 Jul 1968 |
Division of Mental Hygiene (TA11) | 01 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1956 |
Board of Inquiry Into a Disturbance at Royal Derwent Hospital (TA298) | 01 Jan 1972 | 31 Dec 1973 |
Board of Inquiry Into the Royal Derwent Hospital and Millbrook Rise Hospital. (TA390) | 23 May 1979 | 31 Aug 1979 |
Subsequent Agencies:
Board of Management - Royal Derwent Hospital (TA155) | 01 Jul 1968 | 30 Nov 2000 |
Community and Rural Health Division (TA1606) | 18 Sep 1998 | 01 Jul 2002 |
Willow Court (TA1649) | 01 Jul 1990 | 30 Nov 2000 |
Royal Hobart Hospital (TA441) | 01 Jan 1820 |
Series Created By Agency:
HSD247 Patient Records - Admission Register. | 01 Jan 1830 | 28 Feb 1954 |
HSD254 Patient Records - Register of Death, Transfer or Discharge of Patients. | 04 Jan 1830 | 11 Jul 1966 |
HSD104 Alphabetical Monthly Register of Patients and Attendants, with Details of Diet. | 01 Apr 1841 | 31 Aug 1842 |
HSD55 Patient Records - Case Books. | 01 Nov 1842 | 30 Nov 1843 |
HSD285 Patient Records - Admission Papers. | 04 Feb 1843 | 27 Nov 1964 |
HSD256 Staff Records - Register of Attendants. | 17 Nov 1844 | 30 Dec 1854 |
HSD246 Patient Records - Case Books (All Patients). | 01 Jan 1845 | 31 Dec 1854 |
HSD57 Monthly Returns of the Non-Medical Establishment and Patients. | 01 Apr 1845 | 30 Jun 1846 |
HSD258 Staff Records - Register of Nurses and Wardswomen. | 03 Oct 1845 | 09 Aug 1854 |
HSD51 Patient Records - Case Books (Male). | 01 Apr 1849 | 31 Jan 1874 |
HSD58 Finance Records - Stores Issue Register. | 13 Feb 1850 | 31 Dec 1866 |
AB923 Miscellaneous Returns. | 01 Jul 1852 | 30 Apr 1854 |
HSD52 Patient Records - Case Books (Female). | 01 Dec 1854 | 31 Jan 1872 |
HSD257 Staff Records - Staff Register. | 01 Jan 1855 | 31 Dec 1885 |
HSD45 Medical Superintendent's Letterbook. | 16 Oct 1855 | 11 May 1867 |
HSD284 Patient Files. | 05 Jul 1857 | 23 Dec 1993 |
HSD271 Copies of Returns Submitted by the Medical Superintendent to the Colonial Secretary. | 01 May 1861 | 30 Apr 1864 |
HSD48 Memorandum from the Colonial Secretary Secretary Seeking a Return of Patients. | 01 Jan 1869 | 31 Dec 1869 |
HSD56 Patient Records - Weekly Medical Journals. | 14 Jun 1869 | 28 Nov 1964 |
AB365 Patient Records - Case Books (All Patients). | 01 Jan 1872 | 31 Dec 1938 |
AB922 Patient Records - Register of Female Patients. | 01 Jan 1888 | 31 Dec 1897 |
HSD252 Patient Records - Alphabetical Register of Patients. | 01 Jan 1888 | 31 Dec 1974 |
HSD288 Patient Records - Card Index to Patient Files. | 01 Jan 1894 | 31 Dec 1965 |
AB479 Patient Records removed from Case Books. | 25 Jan 1894 | 20 Apr 1979 |
AB515 Patient Records - Register of Patient's Next-of-Kin. | 01 Jan 1897 | 31 Dec 1979 |
AF532 Index to Case Books (All Patients) | 01 Jul 1898 | 31 Mar 1932 |
HSD286 General Correspondence. | 01 Jan 1899 | 31 Dec 1949 |
HSD289 Correspondence Register. | 01 Jan 1909 | 31 Dec 1941 |
AB389 Staff Records - Personnel Files. | 01 Jan 1914 | 31 Dec 1984 |
HSD50 Patient Records - Heredity Charts of Eleven Named Patients. | 01 Jan 1918 | 31 Dec 1919 |
HSD263 Daily Ward Reports - Female Division. | 01 Jan 1918 | 12 Oct 1978 |
HSD290 Staff Notices and Memorandum Book. | 01 Jan 1918 | 31 Dec 1940 |
HSD266 Finance Records - Record of Payments for Patients. | 01 Jan 1920 | 31 Dec 1944 |
HSD233 Finance Records - Register of Drugs issued from the Store. | 01 Nov 1923 | 30 Jun 1932 |
HSD59 Finance Records - Register of Provisions and Medical Extras issued. | 01 Jan 1927 | 31 Dec 1931 |
AF597 Publications | 01 Jan 1934 | 31 Dec 1990 |
AF594 Register of Patients under Restraint or in Seclusion | 01 Mar 1934 | 07 May 1938 |
AG56 Client Files | 01 Jan 1935 | 30 Nov 2000 |
HSD287 Copies of Outward Correspondence (Incomplete). | 01 Jan 1936 | 31 Dec 1942 |
HSD291 Patient Records - Reports on Insulin Coma and Somnifane Therapy. | 01 Jan 1939 | 31 Dec 1965 |
HSD262 Daily Ward Reports - Male Division. | 13 Mar 1939 | 22 Nov 1978 |
HSD267 Finance Records - Cash Book. | 27 Jun 1940 | 19 Dec 1944 |
HSD272 Finance Records - Record of Payments for Goods and Services. | 01 Nov 1940 | 30 Jun 1942 |
AB530 Patient Records - Register of Mental Defectives. | 01 Jan 1941 | 09 Oct 1959 |
HSD264 Daily Ward Reports - Government Institution for Defectives. | 23 Oct 1941 | 16 Mar 1965 |
HSD261 Record of Daily Patient Strength (Lachlan Park and Millbrook Rise). | 01 Jan 1946 | 30 Oct 1974 |
AF581 Parklan News | 09 Dec 1959 | 30 Dec 1961 |
HSD248 Patient Records - Admission Register. | 01 Dec 1964 | 05 Jan 2001 |
HSD249 Patient Records - Register of Admissions for Treatment. | 02 Dec 1964 | 30 Jun 1966 |
HSD250 Patient Records - Register of Admissions for Observations. | 03 Dec 1964 | 29 Jun 1966 |
HSD268 Finance Records - Livestock Ledger. | 01 Oct 1965 | 31 Jul 1971 |
AF601 Medical Superintendants Charts of Patient Numbers | 01 Jan 1972 | 31 Dec 1973 |
AF602 Occupational Therapy Request and Record Card | 01 May 1972 | 20 Feb 1975 |
AF593 Daily Ward Reports - Male and Female Divisions | 23 Nov 1978 | 15 Jun 1980 |
AF529 Divisional Executive Committee Minutes and associated Papers | 02 Apr 1985 | 06 Jun 1988 |
AF598 Nursing Service Committeee - Minutes of Meetings | 04 Jun 1985 | 11 Sep 1985 |
AF530 Clinical Projects Committee Minutes and associated Papers | 01 Jan 1988 | 31 Dec 1988 |