South Australia was a planned colony with an emigration policy that depended on populating the colony with young, fit and healthy men and women. The selection process in England for potential colonists lacked rigour, and resulted in a small but significant number of elderly, poor, chronically ill and those suffering from mental illness arriving in the colony. Also, the effects of a long, arduous sea journey combined with a challenging new life in a small colony proved too much for some. As a result the Governor and the representatives of the government found themselves required to care for the sick, destitute and the mentally ill.
Adelaide Gaol
When the colony of South Australia began in 1836, there was no provision made for people with a mental illness, or lunatics as they were then called. Consequently, they were kept in the Adelaide Gaol. A ward was set aside for the insane where, reflecting the view of the time, thet were kept restrained and out of sight. To address this problem a Board of Pauper Lunatics was set up in 1841 to suggest alternative solutions. However, no one was prepared to take any responsibility. In addition, the colony was nearly bankrupt which restricted public expenditure, so nothing was done.
It wasn’t until April 1846 that the government acted and rented a house with eight rooms and a small cottage at Parkside. On 21st May nine inmates were transferred from the gaol. However, the house was too small and many remained in the gaol until 1855. The Parkside premises were used until the Asylum on North Terrace was completed. The Parkside Lunatic Asylum was later built on this site.
Adelaide Lunatic Asylum
In 1849 the Colonial Engineer drew up plans for an asylum costing £5000-£6000 that would accommodate sixty patients, a house surgeon, three keepers and a couple of domestic staff. Tenders were called in 1850 and the new Adelaide Lunatic Asylum was opened in March 1852. It was built on the parklands at the eastern end of North Terrace, on ground overlooking the Botanic Garden. The new asylum provided far better facilities for the insane, but less than two years after its opening it proved to be too small. There were two men occupying each cell and accommodation was still required for forty more patients. Therefore, the Adelaide Gaol remained in use for at least another four years.
At the end of 1856 more accommodation became available for mental patients when the new hospital building was opened and the old Adelaide Hospital building was made available to the Asylum. However, by 1866 this had also become overcrowded and planning was begun for another asylum. By this time the Adelaide Lunatic Asylum was considered to be below standard but it remained in use until 1902, when its last patient was finally transferred to Parkside Lunatic Asylum. It was then used for several years as an infectious diseases hospital before it was razed in 1938.
Parkside Lunatic Asylum
In 1864 a Commission was appointed to inquire into the management of the Adelaide Lunatic Asylum. They found that it was crowded and its location had become inappropriate. Adelaide had expanded rapidly, with suburbs by the parklands, which meant the roads passing the asylum had become main thoroughfares. The Commission recommended the construction of a new purpose-built asylum for seven hundred patients based on the best European and American practices. They also recommended the purchase of land within four miles from the centre of Adelaide.
Land was purchased and the new Parkside Lunatic Asylum opened in March 1870. In May 1870 the main building of a new Asylum was opened and received fifty patients transferred from the Adelaide Asylum. Patients continued to be transferred from North Terrace until Parkside was completed. The Parkside Asylum remains open to this today and is now known as Glenside (Psychiatric) Hospital.
References
Bell, Maureen 2003. ‘From the 1870’s to the 1970’s: the changing face of public psychiatry in South Australia’. Australasian Psychiatry, vol. 11, Issue 1, pp.79-86.
Piddock, Susan 2004. ‘Possibilities and realities: South Australia’s asylums in the 19th century’. Australasian Psychiatry, vol. 12, Issue 2, pp.172-175.
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hi I was wondering if they would still have records of the patients in parkside back in 1916 as my great great grandmother died in there and I’m trying to find out why she was there. I’m from Auckland, New Zealand.
Or who I can get in touch with to find out more.
Regards Lorraine
February 7th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hi Lorraine
Please contact David Buob from the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08)8375 6000 with your details. If he cannot help, he will direct you to the person who can.
Regards Doug Lyall
February 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Hi Lorraine,
There is an index of inmates at Parkside Lunatic Asylum kept at the SA Genealogy and Heraldry Society, Unley http://www.saghs.org.au/ on microfiche. I know they had records for up to at least 1910 for female inmates.
Regards,
Paula Arnold
April 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I am wondering if anyone can advise when the name changed from Parkside Lunatic Asylum to Glenside?
May 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
There were several name changes. It began as the Parkside Lunatic Asylum (1870-1913). The name was then changed to the Parkside Mental Hospital (1913-1967) and finally in 1967 to the Glenside Hospital.
April 9th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Winifred Ann Stokie died at the Parkside Lunatic Asylum on 24 May 1900. She had been admitted in March of the same year.
Is it possible that a record of her admission with personal, family, home address, etc is available somewhere and can be copied?
My wife and I are researching her family history and Winifred was a GGG Aunt.
We are particularly anxious to establish what became of Winifred’s parents, John and Catherine Curran.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
My brother, William Henry West was a patient at Parkside from approximately 1949 until his death in approximately 1961.
I wish to confirm these details and to find out the details of his metal disease. How should I go about this?
Regards,
Graham West
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
My Grandfather, Harry Edward Christophers Junior was admitted to Glenside, could you please tell me of the mental problems he had.
Regards,
Darren Lillie
September 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Hi Graham and Darren
If you contact David Buob from the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08)8375 6000 with your details he may be able to help. If he can’t, he will direct you to the person who can.
There is also an index of inmates of Parkside Lunatic Asylum kept at the SA Genealogy and Heraldry Society, Unley http://www.saghs.org.au/ on microfiche.
Regards
Doug
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hi Doug,
I live near the Glenside Hospital and I am fascinated by what I think used to be ‘Z’ Ward for Criminal Mental Defectives. It is a beautiful building with, I am sure, an interesting history. Do you have any suggestions of books or other resources that will have photos and more information about this building and it’s history?
Thank you,
Amy
November 6th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Hi Amy
The State Library of South Australia is a good resource for books & photo’s. You can check their catalogue at http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au/screens/mainmenu.html.
Also, David Buob ((08)8375 6000) from the Glenside Hospital Historical Society may have some suggestions of books or other resources.
Regards
Doug
February 20th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
My great grandmother was an inmate of the Adelaide Gaol and the Adelaide Asylum from 1898 until she died there in 1914. I have a photo of her taken with her eldest son, and wondered how this could be taken, when she was incarcerated in the Asylum. Did they allow the patients out for the weekend or something like this?
February 24th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Hi Marlene
If you contact David Buob from the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08)8375 6000 with your questions he may be able to help. If he can’t, he will direct you to the person who can.
May 14th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Howdy. My grandfather Henry (Harry) T. Kay was lay superintendant of Glenside for many years. In actual fact he worked his way up from paperboy at aged 15 to lay superintendant and worked there for about 50 years til retirement. I am trying to get a copy of the book that he wrote for the Centenary, called 1870-1970 : commemorating the centenary of Glenside Hospital Do you know if there is a copy around at glenside or anywhere or if I am able to get one?
Regards
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Hi Jo, I have a copy of the book you require. I think I bought it at dept of mental health, somewhere on Marion Road, near Harvey Norman. It was about 10 years ago, so quite can’t remember. But ring Glensde or email me
June 25th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
hey i was wondering about the glenside the old glenside building thats been closed up and u cant get to can u tell me what it was and it purpose when it was up and running in south australia and what are they doing with the buliding!!
August 9th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Hi I have a copy of the book : 1870-1970 : commemorating the centenary of Glenside Hospital if any one wants it.
August 14th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
hello everyone i am interested in any imformation that any one has on glenside there is so much that is covered up about it my family has so much history of being in glenside and i am facinated my father was in glenside and his father and i remember visiting my father in glenside and seeing the labatory a looking through the windows with scares now lingering in my memory so if anyone has any imformation can they please email me on shape_shifter9@hotmail.com
thankyou kind regards renayee
August 27th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Hi Rebecca,
I would be very keen to get hold of your book if you still have it,
Regards,
Janet
August 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am
HI everyone!
I am doing my major investigation study for year 12 on Glenside and i was wondering if there was anyone within the facility that i could contact, to get an interview with??
This would be most helpful Thanks
August 30th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Hello Simone
You might try the phone number on this page:
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/mentalhealth/Default.aspx?tabid=66
August 31st, 2010 at 9:51 am
Thankyou, but i was wondering if you have any idea what the current state of Glenside is? the oc health and safety sort of things? i am aware of the shortage in acute beds, but is there anyone who is aware of any other shortages??
September 8th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I’m interested in the history of “Yarrabee House”, which is on the corner of North Terrace and Hackney Road. I know it had something to do with the original Adelaide Lunatic Asylum. I’m just intrigued because it’s such a lovely building. Does anyone know anything about its history?
Thanks
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
Hi
My great great grandmother died at the asylum in 1885. I am trying to find out if patients who died were buried by the Asylum (and if so where?) or returned to their families?
Any help wpuld be appreciated.
October 9th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I’m looking for any information about George Willoughby who was the subject of a Royal Commission in 1888: Board appointed by the Chief Secretary to inquire into certain allegations in regard to the treatment in the Adelaide and Parkside Asylums of a pauper lunatic named George Willoughby. Why was he in Parkside and what happened to him?
October 31st, 2010 at 8:38 am
I took Doug Lyalls advice and found the Society, especially David Buob, to be a fantastic source. Thanks for your input. I now have lots of relevant information to sift and document.
Cheers
Mike Guerin
February 15th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I was employed at Parkside during 1954-1956. I made friendships with other nurses; namely Margaret Bristow and Marion Moran. I would love to know how their lives have been and if there is any way I can get in touch.
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:24 am
Has anyone got a copy of the book published about centenary of Glenside Hosp that they no longer want?
May 19th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Amy; I was recently researching “Yarrabee House” also as my dad grew up there in the 50′s and 60′s (my grandfather ran the botanical gardens back then)It was built in the 1860’s to house the resident surgeon of the lunatic asylum behind it (then called “Lunatic Asylum’s Medical Officer’s House”). Teachers have told me in the past that it used to house “women in trouble” but I actually haven’t found any information about that.
June 6th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Through an 1889 newspaper clipping I have found out that my Great Uncle committed suicide whilst at the Lunatic Asylum on North Terrace, Adelaide, he had been there for 7 months. Would any medical case notes still exist somewhere.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Hello Bev
Your best bet would be to contact the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society on 8272 4222.
You can search their catalogue from this page: http://www.saghs.org.au/libsearch.htm
If you search for ‘lunatic’ you’ll find a number of Lunatic Asylum patient case collections on microfiche.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Hi
I am looking for information on William Datson who was in a lunatic asylum in 1863 for 3 mths.He was married to my great grandmother Mary Ann Bawden, but between 1867-1876 she had 5 children by 4 different men. One of these children was my grandmother. I am doing my ancestry and am wanting to find out the reason why this happened to her. William Datson and Mary Ann Datson lived in Kapunda, and were buried together. Was she destitute due to him having mental problems?. Please help me or give me a path I can follow. cannot visit as I live in NSW. with thanks.
July 13th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Hello Joan
Your best bet would be to contact the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society on (08) 8272 4222.
You can search their library catalogue from here: http://www.saghs.org.au/libsearch.htm
Thankyou
July 14th, 2011 at 4:42 am
hey guysim travis and just wondering if that Lunatic Asylum its still closd and its it haunted
July 19th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Hi,
\would be great to be made aware of anything to do with my Grandfather F.W.Gassner who was incacerated at Parkside in 1914-1920ish.
Please if you can find anything e-mail me back.
Regards
Colin Gassner
July 23rd, 2011 at 8:51 pm
My grandfather’s grandfather died in Parkside in 1895. Where can I view his internment record? Are there burials/graves for inmates? Any information regarding how I trace his association with Parkside would be welcomed.
July 26th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
[...] was at that moment I realised where I was. Our tour guide told me our room used to be two cells and you could still see where they had [...]
July 29th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Hello Bruce
You can try contacting the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08) 7425 8500.
You can also try contacting the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society on (08) 8272 4222 or http://www.saghs.org.au.
Thankyou
November 1st, 2011 at 10:56 am
I am trying to find out about an Alfred Lines, who may be my great grandfather, who sadly died in the Glenside asylum in either 1914 or 1915 at the age of 55 years. I would like to know why he was there for family reasons. I know he was buried at West Terrace cemetery, Adelaide.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hello Barbara
Please try contacting the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08) 7425 8500. They may be able to help you.
Thanks
November 16th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Thank you very much for getting back to me. I will call the number you suggest.
December 19th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I was wondering if anyone could help me with this one question I have had for some time. There is no way for me to fing where the Z ward is actually located and i would relly love to to go ther, because i have allways been interested in the history and I would love to see the place with my own 2 eyes.But no matter where i look i can never find wher i is actually located, and is it true that here are gaurd doges every where so you can not get in???
Please help me I would really apreciate this
January 17th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Hi I was wondering if you had any information on my ancestor Michael Delzoppo who was admitted into the asylum in 1907. And also if you had photos of the patients. Thanks.
January 18th, 2012 at 8:13 am
Hello Thomas
Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of infromation.
You can try contacting the Glenside Hospital Historical Society on (08) 7425 8500.
You can also try contacting the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society on (08) 8272 4222 or http://www.saghs.org.au.
Thankyou
January 22nd, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Hi, I am a yr 12 student and have decided to focus my research project on mental health, i would really like to get as much information as I can on the Glenside Hospital. So I was just wondering if there was a way I could get in contact with or would be able to talk to anyone who was a nurse or someone who worked at the Glenside hospital/Parkside who would be able to help with the history of the hospital
thankyou very much for your help
February 1st, 2012 at 11:55 am
Hello Gabby
Your best bet for finding information on the Glenside Hospital would be the Glenside Hospital Historical Society, ph (08) 7425 8500.
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:08 am
Thankyou for all your help
I’ll give the Historical Society a call.
February 5th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Hey
Thanks for getting back to me, I contacted the society and I have managed to get in contact with David Buob, Thankyou for all your help
Gabby
February 6th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Hey,
I was just reading through the previous comments and I was just wondering if I could get in contact with Judy Smith who wrote a comment on February 15 2011, if I could get in contact with you that would be amazing
hope to speak to you soon
thankyou
April 1st, 2012 at 6:13 pm
clare,
the original “z” ward building is located off Conyngham street, turn right at the maptec sign and go around to the left hand side and there it is…. you can walk around the outside of the main wall and look through the main gate but you can’t actually go in…..look it up on google maps or email me at sparky1000@live.com.au if you still can’t find it
April 12th, 2012 at 2:01 am
Hi,
I’ve been researching my family tree for some time now and have just had it confirmed via death records and various letters from Parkside Asylum that my great great great grandmother Bridget Baker was admitted on 22nd November 1877 for Mania and died 3rd July 1923.
Looking through the above messages I noticed phone numbers but I was wondering if there is anyway I could get in contact with someone via email as I’m in Perth Western Australia.
I’m rather interested in Bridget’s case notes if they still exist.
Thanks,
Stacey
April 18th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Hello Stacey
Email addresses for contacting Genealogy SA can be found here:
http://www.genealogysa.org.au/contacting-us/contact-details.html
Unfortunately the Glenside Hospital Historical Society doesn’t seem to have an email address. You can contact them on (08) 7425 8500.
July 15th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Hello Stacey, Wonder if anyone is researching my gg grandmother,Anastasia Fitzgerald, who was admitted to Parkside 8 July 1885 and died there 10 Jun 1899. Interested in reading her records and notes. Would also like to know where she is buried.
Regards Jan
August 4th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Can someone tell me if Parkside/Glenside the same place as the eastwood mental hospital that was part of the Royal Adelaide hospital in 1940s/1950s?
September 13th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Hello, Now this is a strange one. My Father was a professional Magician and aquired a straight jacket from Glenside. It is over 100 years old and is showing it’s age… Could never bring myself to letting it go however if it’s not preserved it will rott away.Most of it is leather which has help up over the years however the material part is not so good. Any ideas???
April 27th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
i been doing some family history on the cobbledicks and came across there name entering glenside hospital where can i acess there records
May 2nd, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Hi I was wondering if they would still have records of the patients in parkside back in 1920′s as my Husband’s great great uncle Michael Edward Smith died in there on 12 May 1925 and I’m trying to find out why and how long he was there. and where is he buried
Or who I can get in touch with to find out more.
Regards Marianne