421:
367:"The attitude of those in charge, who unfortunately wrote the reports and influenced the treatment, was that of reprimand and punishment, with certain forms of medical treatment being threatened as punishment for failure to 'co-operate' and where 'not co-operate' might mean a refusal to obey an order, say, to go to the doorless lavatories with six others and urinate in public while suffering verbal abuse by the nurse for being unwilling. 'Too fussy are we? Well, Miss Educated, you’ll learn a thing or two here."
42:
1105:
323:
involved in the construction – including the contractor, the head of the Public Works
Department, the projects clerk of works and Lawson himself – gave evidence to support their competence. The enquiry decided that it was the architect who carried the ultimate responsibility, and Lawson was found both 'negligent and incompetent'. This may be considered an unreasonable finding as the nature of the site's underlying
311:
239:
340:
502:
212:, New Zealand. When built in the late 19th century, it was the largest building in the country, noted for its scale and extravagant architecture. It became infamous for construction faults resulting in partial collapse, as well as a 1942 fire which destroyed a wooden outbuilding, claiming 37 lives (39 in other sources), because the victims were trapped in a locked ward.
428:
A nurse working at the hospital in the later years of its operation describes the situation much less critically than Frame, noting that while many patients at
Seacliff during her time (1940s) would not have been confined in modern days, the atmosphere was more like that of a large working community.
445:
Around 9:45 pm on 8 December 1942, a fire broke out in Ward 5 of the hospital (also called the 'Simla' building). Ward 5 was a two-storey wooden structure added onto the original construction, holding 39 (41 according to some sources) female patients. All patients had been locked into their rooms or
294:
roof line dominated by a large tower complete with further turrets and a spire. The building contained four and a half million bricks made of local clay on the site and was 225 metres long by 67 metres wide. The great central tower of 50 m height, an essential element of many revivalist designs, was
465:
tried to extinguish the flames with water from a close-by hydrant, while two women were saved from rooms that did not have locked shutters. However, the flames were too strong, and after an hour the ward was reduced to ashes, though the fire was kept from spreading to other buildings. All patients
322:
Problems with the design's stability could no longer be ignored even at the time, and in 1888 an enquiry into the collapse was set up. In
February of that year, realising that he could be in legal trouble, Lawson applied to the enquiry to be allowed counsel to defend him. During the enquiry all
327:
clays was beyond contemporary knowledge of soil mechanics, with Lawson singled out to bear the blame (but this disregards the fact that the site's problems had been pointed out by the surveyors). As New
Zealand was at this time suffering an economic recession, Lawson found himself virtually
301:
The asylum was progressively added to in later years as it was transformed to function as a working farm, though most of the newer buildings were much simpler wooden structures. Staff lived in separate accommodation close to the wards, and they were able to socialise in nearby
Dunedin.
318:
Structural problems began to manifest themselves even before the first building was completed, and in 1887, only three years after the opening of the main block, a major landslide occurred – predicted as a risk by the surveyors – and affected a temporary building.
379:
at
Seacliff because of her new-found public success; she had won a literary prize while in the institution. Others were not so fortunate, being forced to submit to what today would be considered barbaric procedures such as the 'unsexing' operation (removal of
416:
innovations, was his implementation of small dormitories housed in buildings adjacent to the larger asylum. This style of accommodation has been considered the forerunner to the villa system later adopted by all mental health institutions in New
Zealand.
403:
appointed
Medical Superintendent in 1889, a position he held for 30 years. Patients were 'prescribed' fresh air, exercise, good nutrition and productive work (for example, in on-site laundries, gardens, and a forge) as part of their therapeutic regime.
279:, he started work on the new asylum in 1874, and was involved with it until the completion of the main block in 1884. At that time, it was New Zealand's largest building, and was to house 500 patients and 50 staff. It had cost £78,000 to construct.
433:. Unless considered dangerous, patients were allowed some liberties, such as being allowed to go fishing – an activity that provided patients with leisure time, while also helping the fishing business Truby King had long ago established at nearby
521:
in 1991. Around 80% of the reserve is densely wooded, with the area commonly called the 'Enchanted Forest'. The last remaining building in the reserve was demolished due to structural faults in 1992, after an initiative to establish a
263:
expansion of the city, and triggered by the inadequacy of the
Littlebourne Mental Asylum. In 1875, the Provincial Council decided to build a new structure on "a reserve of fine land at Brinn's Point, north of
481:(present in other new sections of the institution), and recommended their installation in all psychiatric institutions. The cause of the fire was not found, though there was speculation about an electrical
227:, where most of the old buildings have been demolished and most of the area remains dense woodland, and privately owned land where several of the smaller hospital buildings have been renovated completely.
529:
The remaining area of hospital buildings outside the
Reserve is privately owned. In the summer of 2006-2007, regular guided tours of the hospital grounds were operated in conjunction with the
268:". Initial work was begun in the "dense trackless forest" in 1878, though the Director of the Geological Survey criticised the site location, because he felt that the hillside was unstable.
298:
It was later said of the building and its (forlorn) location that: "The Victorians might not have wanted their lunatics living with them, but they liked to house them grandly."
1330:
889:
1093:
355:
or held in the institution for what would today be classed as simply being difficult, was often very callous, even cruel, a feature of many mental asylums of the times.
509:
Primarily as a result of worsening ground conditions which progressively affected many of the buildings, the hospital functions of Seacliff were progressively moved to
553:
1340:
1335:
1390:
1345:
1385:
544:
and patient tag were found in a shallow grave under a tree in the reserve, leading to a police investigation. The femur was found to be an animal bone.
1071:
1350:
473:
An inquiry into the fire criticised the lack of nursing staff, but praised the firefighters for their prompt and valiant actions, including the quick
1162:
1000:
1213:
1017:
944:
855:
763:
643:
975:
76:
1355:
1086:
1218:
282:
Architecturally, Lawson's work on the asylum was very exuberant, making some of his previous designs look comparatively tame. The asylum had
420:
827:
668:
1360:
1079:
714:
1375:
1294:
1182:
1109:
185:
1365:
1259:
873:
1380:
1304:
69:
1370:
1234:
732:
620:
243:
399:
At the same time, Seacliff was groundbreaking in some parts of its treatment programme, with noted medical reformer
1395:
1269:
1157:
603:
393:
272:
513:, closing in 1973. The site was subdivided, with the land surrounding the original building site later becoming
920:
639:
787:
230:
Seacliff is claimed to be haunted by former patients of what was the country's biggest building at the time.
220:
1274:
1127:
429:
Patients capable of working were asked to help with various duties, partly because of staff shortages in
375:, and that all patients tended to continually look for the possibility of running away. She only escaped
1254:
1132:
485:
due to shifting foundations. The disaster remained New Zealand's worst loss of life in a fire until the
478:
283:
209:
61:
1192:
913:
771:
275:, a New Zealand architect of the 19th century. Known for designing in a range of styles, including the
851:
1239:
1152:
809:
672:
530:
518:
486:
474:
205:
141:
1309:
1264:
1142:
793:
616:
477:
of many other patients in nearby threatened buildings. It also remarked on the critical absence of
1299:
1279:
1249:
1187:
1056:"Unfortunate folk" : a study of the social context of committal to Seacliff Asylum 1928-1937
961:
941:
352:
505:
Little remains on the Truby King Reserve of the hospital other than a few building foundations.
1244:
1167:
1147:
1013:
710:
692:
331:
The main block survived until 1959, when it was demolished because of further earth movement.
223:, in an isolated coastal spot within a forested reserve. The site is now divided between the
1208:
1172:
1137:
1060:
1041:
523:
41:
17:
964:(from the New Zealand Society of Genealogists newsletter, Dunedin Branch, March/April 2004)
885:
1177:
736:
574:
260:
1289:
381:
276:
247:
1324:
595:
482:
360:
265:
310:
804:
570:
490:
451:
430:
392:) of Annemarie Anon in what was at the time considered a 'successful' treatment.
295:
also proposed to double as an observation tower if inmates should try to escape.
1113:
1104:
558:
510:
467:
462:
356:
339:
238:
501:
359:, a writer, was held at the asylum during the 1940s and wrongly diagnosed as a
767:
564:
413:
405:
400:
372:
943:– KING, Sir Frederic Truby CMG in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand,1966 (from
91:
78:
868:
447:
324:
764:"Give me the Impossible – the story of Truby King and the Plunket Movement"
729:
932:(Anonymous, "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand", The Cyclopedia Company, 1905)
434:
389:
376:
348:
118:
113:
886:
A survivor against the odds – noted New Zealand writer Janet Frame dies
740:
216:
1064:
1045:
792:– McLeod, Kath; Otago Age Concern publication, via Caversham Project,
409:
287:
1054:
1035:
1001:"Bone and tag found at former asylum is not from a human - police"
541:
500:
455:
419:
385:
338:
309:
291:
237:
408:
is credited as having turned what was essentially conceived as a
343:
Picture of nurses on front lawn of Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, 1890.
259:
The need for a new asylum in the Dunedin area was created by the
976:"Bone and patient tag found in 'shallow grave' at former asylum"
1075:
461:
After the fire was noticed by a male attendant, the hospital's
828:"The story of Seacliff, the most haunted place in New Zealand"
567:, medical reformer, administrator of the asylum for 30 years
739:(from the heritage assessment of the Mental Health Museum,
424:
Seacliff Mental Hospital ca. 1926 during a cricket match
314:
The hospital in 1884, with the main buildings completed.
271:
Seacliff Asylum was one of the most important works of
962:
New Zealand Disasters – Seacliff Mental Hospital Fire
466:
who remained in Ward 5 are thought to have died from
577:
murderer who died at Seacliff, after several escapes
561:, the most famous of the asylum's patients / inmates
1227:
1201:
1120:
730:
Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria
181:
176:
168:
160:
152:
147:
137:
129:
124:
112:
107:
68:
57:
52:
34:
869:Compo for psychiatric patients 'a difficult issue'
709:. New Holland Publishers. 2017. pp. 264–265.
242:New Zealand's largest building was an exercise in
371:Frame describes other patients being beaten for
347:Treatment of the patients at Seacliff, whether
688:Seacliff asylum's painful and haunting history
554:List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll
458:shortage. Checks were made only once an hour.
290:projecting from nearly every corner, with the
1087:
669:Truby King Recreation Reserve Management Plan
8:
1331:Reportedly haunted locations in New Zealand
412:into an efficient working farm. Another of
363:. In her autobiography, she recalled that:
215:The asylum was less than 20 miles north of
1094:
1080:
1072:
1059:(BA(Hons)). Dunedin: University of Otago.
1040:(BA(Hons)). Dunedin: University of Otago.
821:
819:
31:
1037:Truby King and Seacliff Asylum 1889-1907
1214:Southern Cross Auckland Surgical Centre
1018:Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
957:
955:
953:
945:Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
856:Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
644:Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
635:
633:
631:
629:
587:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
517:, having passed into the ownership of
1219:Southern Cross Hospital North Harbour
783:
781:
683:
681:
664:
662:
660:
658:
656:
654:
652:
7:
1341:Psychiatric hospitals in New Zealand
1336:Hospital buildings completed in 1884
974:McNeilly, Hamish (2 November 2023).
805:Papers Past (Transcription excerpts)
1391:December 1942 events in New Zealand
1346:Buildings and structures in Dunedin
852:Hospitals, Mental – Early Problems
826:Louise Fisher (13 February 2021).
762:Bartle, Rhonda (1 February 2005).
219:and close to the county centre of
25:
1386:1880s architecture in New Zealand
29:Hospital in Seacliff, New Zealand
1351:Defunct hospitals in New Zealand
1103:
40:
1053:Holloway, Judith Anne (1991).
617:Fire: Seacliff Mental Hospital
1:
1356:Hospitals established in 1884
874:New Zealand Press Association
707:Haunted New Zealand Road Trip
600:christchurchcitylibraries.com
515:Truby King Recreation Reserve
246:, but its facades belied the
225:Truby King Recreation Reserve
250:of its repetitious interior.
18:Seacliff Lunatic Asylum fire
621:Christchurch City Libraries
487:Ballantyne's store disaster
244:Gothic Revival architecture
1412:
696:, Saturday 27 January 2007
1270:Mount View Lunatic Asylum
1034:Caldwell, Cheryl (1984).
789:Memories are made of this
735:27 September 2007 at the
604:Christchurch City Council
394:Electroconvulsive therapy
48:
39:
1361:Houses completed in 1884
921:University of Canterbury
916:Wrestling with the Angel
596:"Seacliff Hospital fire"
202:Seacliff Mental Hospital
186:Hospitals in New Zealand
92:45.675254°S 170.622091°E
1376:Robert Lawson buildings
1285:Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
919:– Mason, Carolyn; M.A.
890:World Socialist Website
675:website, 5 August 1998)
537:tourist train service.
470:from smoke inhalation.
353:intellectually disabled
194:Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
35:Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
1366:1973 disestablishments
1275:Porirua Lunatic Asylum
506:
425:
396:was also widely used.
344:
315:
251:
97:-45.675254; 170.622091
1255:Karori Lunatic Asylum
876:, Friday 29 June 2007
504:
423:
342:
313:
241:
904:– Frame, Janet; 1984
902:An Angel at My Table
673:Dunedin City Council
540:In November 2023, a
531:Taieri Gorge Railway
450:, partially because
206:psychiatric hospital
153:Construction started
142:Psychiatric hospital
1381:1942 in New Zealand
1310:Whau Lunatic Asylum
1305:Tokanui Psychiatric
794:University of Otago
88: /
1371:History of Dunedin
1280:Pukeora Sanatorium
1235:Auckland Adventist
888:– Rees, Margaret;
573:, a schizophrenic
507:
493:five years later.
426:
345:
316:
252:
1318:
1317:
1163:Princess Margaret
1148:Naval Health Unit
810:Hawkes Bay Herald
693:Otago Daily Times
640:The Seacliff Fire
575:white supremacist
191:
190:
16:(Redirected from
1403:
1396:1940s in Dunedin
1158:Palmerston North
1108:
1107:
1096:
1089:
1082:
1073:
1068:
1049:
1021:
1011:
1005:
1004:
997:
991:
990:
988:
986:
971:
965:
959:
948:
939:
933:
930:
924:
911:
905:
899:
893:
883:
877:
865:
859:
849:
843:
842:
840:
838:
823:
814:
802:
796:
785:
776:
775:
774:on 17 June 2007.
770:. Archived from
759:
744:
727:
721:
720:
703:
697:
685:
676:
666:
647:
637:
624:
614:
608:
607:
592:
524:transport museum
446:into the 20-bed
103:
102:
100:
99:
98:
93:
89:
86:
85:
84:
81:
44:
32:
21:
1411:
1410:
1406:
1405:
1404:
1402:
1401:
1400:
1321:
1320:
1319:
1314:
1223:
1197:
1116:
1102:
1100:
1052:
1033:
1030:
1028:Further reading
1025:
1024:
1012:
1008:
999:
998:
994:
984:
982:
973:
972:
968:
960:
951:
940:
936:
931:
927:
923:, 1 August 2001
912:
908:
900:
896:
884:
880:
866:
862:
850:
846:
836:
834:
825:
824:
817:
813:, February 1888
803:
799:
786:
779:
761:
760:
747:
743:, January 1999)
737:Wayback Machine
728:
724:
717:
705:
704:
700:
686:
679:
667:
650:
638:
627:
615:
611:
594:
593:
589:
584:
550:
499:
443:
382:fallopian tubes
337:
308:
261:Otago gold rush
257:
236:
198:Seacliff Asylum
96:
94:
90:
87:
82:
79:
77:
75:
74:
30:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1409:
1407:
1399:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1323:
1322:
1316:
1315:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1290:Seaview Asylum
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1231:
1229:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1205:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1124:
1122:
1118:
1117:
1101:
1099:
1098:
1091:
1084:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1050:
1029:
1026:
1023:
1022:
1006:
992:
966:
949:
934:
925:
914:Book Review –
906:
894:
892:, 2 March 2004
878:
860:
844:
815:
797:
777:
745:
722:
715:
698:
677:
648:
625:
609:
586:
585:
583:
580:
579:
578:
568:
562:
556:
549:
546:
498:
495:
442:
439:
369:
368:
336:
333:
328:unemployable.
307:
304:
277:Gothic Revival
256:
253:
248:utilitarianism
235:
232:
189:
188:
183:
179:
178:
174:
173:
170:
166:
165:
162:
158:
157:
154:
150:
149:
145:
144:
139:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
122:
121:
116:
110:
109:
105:
104:
72:
66:
65:
59:
55:
54:
50:
49:
46:
45:
37:
36:
28:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1408:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1328:
1326:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1226:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1128:Auckland City
1126:
1125:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1106:
1097:
1092:
1090:
1085:
1083:
1078:
1077:
1074:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1057:
1051:
1047:
1043:
1039:
1038:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1019:
1015:
1010:
1007:
1002:
996:
993:
981:
977:
970:
967:
963:
958:
956:
954:
950:
946:
942:
938:
935:
929:
926:
922:
918:
917:
910:
907:
903:
898:
895:
891:
887:
882:
879:
875:
871:
870:
864:
861:
857:
853:
848:
845:
833:
829:
822:
820:
816:
812:
811:
806:
801:
798:
795:
791:
790:
784:
782:
778:
773:
769:
765:
758:
756:
754:
752:
750:
746:
742:
738:
734:
731:
726:
723:
718:
716:9781869664640
712:
708:
702:
699:
695:
694:
689:
684:
682:
678:
674:
670:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
655:
653:
649:
645:
641:
636:
634:
632:
630:
626:
622:
618:
613:
610:
605:
601:
597:
591:
588:
581:
576:
572:
569:
566:
563:
560:
557:
555:
552:
551:
547:
545:
543:
538:
536:
532:
527:
525:
520:
516:
512:
503:
496:
494:
492:
488:
484:
483:short circuit
480:
476:
471:
469:
464:
459:
457:
456:nursing staff
454:had caused a
453:
449:
440:
438:
436:
432:
422:
418:
415:
411:
407:
402:
397:
395:
391:
387:
383:
378:
374:
366:
365:
364:
362:
361:schizophrenic
358:
354:
350:
341:
334:
332:
329:
326:
320:
312:
305:
303:
299:
296:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
273:Robert Lawson
269:
267:
266:Port Chalmers
262:
254:
249:
245:
240:
233:
231:
228:
226:
222:
218:
213:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
187:
184:
180:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
146:
143:
140:
136:
132:
128:
123:
120:
117:
115:
111:
106:
101:
73:
71:
67:
64:, New Zealand
63:
60:
56:
51:
47:
43:
38:
33:
27:
19:
1284:
1133:Christchurch
1055:
1036:
1014:Lionel Terry
1009:
995:
983:. Retrieved
979:
969:
937:
928:
915:
909:
901:
897:
881:
867:
863:
847:
835:. Retrieved
831:
808:
800:
788:
772:the original
725:
706:
701:
691:
687:
612:
599:
590:
571:Lionel Terry
539:
534:
528:
526:had failed.
519:Dunedin City
514:
508:
491:Christchurch
472:
463:firefighters
460:
452:World War II
444:
431:World War II
427:
398:
370:
346:
330:
321:
317:
300:
297:
281:
270:
258:
229:
224:
214:
201:
197:
193:
192:
108:Organisation
26:
1240:Cherry Farm
1153:North Shore
1114:New Zealand
837:22 November
832:The Spinoff
559:Janet Frame
511:Cherry Farm
468:suffocation
357:Janet Frame
95: /
83:170°37′20″E
70:Coordinates
1325:Categories
1265:Lake Alice
1183:Wellington
1143:Middlemore
1065:10523/2822
1046:10523/2759
985:2 November
768:Puke Ariki
671:(from the
619:(from the
582:References
565:Truby King
479:sprinklers
475:evacuation
441:Fatal fire
401:Truby King
373:bedwetting
221:Palmerston
138:Speciality
119:Specialist
80:45°40′31″S
1300:Sunnyside
1295:St Helens
1193:Whakatane
1188:Waitakere
1110:Hospitals
497:Aftermath
448:dormitory
335:Treatment
325:bentonite
53:Geography
1260:Kingseat
1250:Karitane
1245:Cornwall
1168:Starship
733:Archived
623:website)
548:See also
535:Seasider
435:Karitane
390:clitoris
377:lobotomy
255:Planning
210:Seacliff
204:) was a
200:, later
125:Services
62:Seacliff
58:Location
1228:Defunct
1209:Braemar
1202:Private
1173:Waikato
1138:Dunedin
741:Porirua
386:ovaries
288:corbels
284:turrets
234:History
217:Dunedin
196:(often
148:History
1178:Wakari
1121:Public
1016:(from
854:(from
713:
642:(from
414:King's
410:prison
349:insane
306:Faults
292:gabled
169:Closed
161:Opened
980:Stuff
542:femur
182:Lists
177:Links
987:2023
839:2021
711:ISBN
533:'s
406:King
388:and
172:1973
164:1884
156:1878
130:Beds
114:Type
1112:in
1061:hdl
1042:hdl
489:in
286:on
208:in
133:500
1327::
978:.
952:^
872:–
830:.
818:^
807:–
780:^
766:.
748:^
690:–
680:^
651:^
628:^
602:.
598:.
437:.
384:,
351:,
1095:e
1088:t
1081:v
1067:.
1063::
1048:.
1044::
1020:)
1003:.
989:.
947:)
858:)
841:.
719:.
646:)
606:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
