1

What's in a name?
The Kew Asylum.

Individuals with mental health issues have

always been vulnerable and society has struggled
to know how to deal with people with these
conditions. While the need for institutionalised
medical care has long been recognised, there has
been a level of fear and lack of understanding of
the plight faced by people with psychiatric
illness. Historically the inability to define
psychological ailments has resulted in the abuse
of the concept of mental illness as a catch all for
misfits and troublesome individuals that could not
Kew Asylum, 1885-1887
conform to societies norms. Between the late
19th to early 20th century, people who had any Hygiene Act2 declared that people referred to as
form of disorder, mental or physical, were liable 'idiots' or 'inmates' should be referred to as
to be locked away into asylums. In contrast to
'patients'. This is one representation of the
attitudes prevalent in society today, these patients development of societys expectations since
were placed in these facilities for incarceration, 1933. In this period, the Government was more
not for rehabilitation1. The Kew Asylum was
concerned dealing with the image of these
founded in 1871 and operated in one form or
hospitals, rather than managing the issues at
another until 1988. Founded in an era in which hand. The history behind the title changes of Kew
institutions for the insane were intended as a
Asylum and the rationale for these changes
means of insuring public order rather than
reflects on perceived changes in public attitudes
providing for the needs of patients, the Kew
and attempts by successive governments to
Asylum was operated along the lines of a jail
appear to be sympathetic with these changes. I
rather than a hospital. Frequently, there were
will argue that rather than making substantive
news articles accusing and inquiring about the alterations to the mental health system that
facilities, or lack thereof, and the hospitals
would improve the care and treatment of those
approach to the treatment of their patients. For with psychiatric illnesses, the series of name
the purposes of this article, the people who
changes at Kew Asylum typify a broader public
resided in the Kew Asylum will be referred to as relations exercise intended to lull the public into
'patients'. However, until 1933, in the Mental
a false sense that real improvements were under
way. Through specific examples of issues
prevalent at Kew Asylum I will attempt to
1 Victoria, Parliament, Kew, Victoria, 2005
<http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/component/daP illustrate a wider phenomenon pervading the
ublicBaseContainer?component=daViewAgency&breadcr mental health system in late 19th century
umbPath=Home/Access%20the%20Collection/Browse%2
0The%20Collection/Agency%20Details&entityId=2840>
accessed 8th October 2015
2 Mental Hygiene Act 1993 (Vic) s1C, iv

2
Australia and which has implications for the
contemporary mental health system.

health issues rather than a haphazard collection

of troublesome individuals. Then again in 1933,
the Mental Hygiene Act determined that all
Houses for the Insane are to be renamed as
'Mental Hospitals'5. The switch in 1933 by the
What's in a name?
Mental Hygiene Act had been prompted by the
influx of newly returning soldiers from the First
Since 1871, the World War and the increased demand for these
title of the Kew asylums, across Australia, for the treatment for
Asylum had
postwar mental health issues6. The last revision
changed about was in 1960, when these hospitals were renamed
every thirty
Psychiatric Hospitals, by the Mental Health Act
years, and over (1959)7. The Kew Hospital is now known as the
140 years
Willsmere Psychiatric Hospital. The relevance of
Victorian mental these changes is to show the evolution of how
health was
the Government and society had shifted their
substantially re- thinking about the purpose of these hospitals
written seven
and the attitudes towards the patients within
times3. In 1903, them. The attitudes towards the management of
Kew Asylum was mental health across Australia had greatly
Horrors of the Kew Asylum, 1876
renamed
shifted since the 1840s8. Previous to these
'Hospital for the hospitals opening, those with mental or physical
Insane' or 'Kew Hospital for the Insane', under disabilities were, usually, locked away in jails,
the Lunacy Act. However, this act was not
house of correction or in a public hospital9.
enforced until 19054. Taking into account the
Under the Legal Provision Act (1843)10, if a
ideas of this time (1903-1933) about people with person was certified as a 'dangerous lunatic' or
mental and physical disabilities, the title of the 'dangerous idiot' they could be send away until
Kew Asylum changing to 'Hospital for the
deemed fit, or, if it was decided they would not be
Insane', or 'Kew Hospital for the Insane' was a
fairly dramatic one. The use of the term 'insane'
in referring to these patients was not as seen as 5 Ibid.
demeaning or insulting as it is perceived today. 6 Neil Rees, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future:
is Victorian Mental Health Law Ripe for Reform? paper
The title 'Hospital for the Insane' is the most
given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th
interesting as it came with the connotations that
Anniversary Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
<
it was only for people who had severe mental
3 Neil Rees, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future:
is Victorian Mental Health Law Ripe for Reform? paper 7
8
given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th
Anniversary Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
<
http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHR
B%2BConference%2BPaper.pdf> accessed 15th October
2015, 1.
4 Victoria, Parliament, Health, Mental, Victoria,
http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/component/daPu
blicBaseContainer?component=daViewFunction&entityId 9
=128 accessed 9th October 2015
10

http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHR
B%2BConference%2BPaper.pdf> accessed 15th October
2015, 1 6.
Ibid.
Neil Rees, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future:
is Victorian Mental Health Law Ripe for Reform? paper
given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th
Anniversary Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
<
http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHR
B%2BConference%2BPaper.pdf> accessed 15th October
2015, 1 6.
Ibid.
Legal Provision Act 1843 (Vic) s3

3
deemed fit, sent to a colonial lunatic asylum11. A postwar economic growth17 (circa 1950s) and
poem found in the New Castle Morning Herald, public opinion had forced the Government to
classified idiots12 described that they would
improve the buildings condition for the patients
roam the streets Eyes a glaring, vacant staring, and better training for the staff. The changes in
When a-walking lowly talking, Swearing, tearing, the public view of the hospital and the
rags a-wearing,13. Even something as simple as importance of improving the conditions were
changing the name of a psychiatric hospital
vital aspects to understand why the government
shows the development of the overall treatment had decided to change the title numerous times
of these patients across Australia. However, even throughout the asylum's operation. In February
though the changes the government had made 1922, an article had been released stating the
about these establishments were a positive
accommodations...is more like a dungeon than
aspect of this time, the facilities within the Kew anything else18. It is also important to decipher
hospital were still in desperate need of many
the differences of what the public knew about
improvements.
Kew hospital and what was actually happening
in the wards.
The issues pertaining to the title of the facility
were minuscule compared to the controversial
practices happening within the walls of the Kew
Asylum. In 1935, doctors had spoken against the Who was it all
conditions in the wards, It is so over-crowded really for?
that beds have to be made up on the floor every
New Castle Morning Herald - 1889
night. The patients clothes are appalling, yet
many of the people in there are sane for most of
So who was this really all for? If the reforms
the time. It is terrible to think that they live
14
under far worse conditions than men in gaol, . within Kew, concerning the treatments and
This did not improve over the next few decades. facilities, were not amended until the 1950s19,
In 1947 a reporter claimed these patients were then who actually cared about the changing
in worse conditions than those in 17th Century, name of the Kew hospital? It seems that this was
England15. The lack of Government funding led to only for the general public. However, it is
a culture of neglect allowing much of the building important to highlight that these recognised
changes did have an overall impact on how
to fall apart and rot away, letting birds and
16
animals run free throughout the facilities . The mental health was perceived across Australia.

11
12
13
14
15
16

17 State Library of Victoria, 1912-1952: A Terrible

Reproach to the Public Conscience Kew Cottages
Ibid.
[website] (2015)
'Idiots' New Castle Morning Herald and Miner's
<http://www.kewcottageshistory.com.au/> accessed 12th
rd
Advocate, 23 March 1889, in Trove [online database],
October 2015
accessed 9th October 2015
18 'Lunatics Asylum: Shocking Neglect' The Argus, 7th
Ibid.
February 1922, 7, in Trove [online database] accessed 11 th
'Conditions At Kew Mental Hospital: Doctors Demand
October 2015
Improvement', The Argus, 8th October 1935, 12, in Trove 19 Neil Rees, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future:
[online database] accessed 10th October 2015
is Victorian Mental Health Law Ripe for Reform? paper
'Kew Mental Asylum Conditions', Daily Examiner, 26th
given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th
June 1947, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed 10 th
Anniversary Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
October 2015
<
'Kew Asylum Buildings: Inspection Permitted,
http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHR
Disgraceful Conditions', The Argus, 9th February 1922, 7,
B%2BConference%2BPaper.pdf> accessed 15th October
th
in Trove [online database] accessed 11 October 2015
2015, 5.

4
Although, at the times of these changes, the
actuality of this impact was not as important as
creating an improved environment for these
patients. An article was released in The Argus, on
the 22nd July 1876, named A Month in Kew
Asylum and Yarra Bend20. A vagabond, the
author of this article, dwelled in the asylum and
wrote of their time as a patient. They wrote of
the good natured patients, excellent conditions
and hospitable staff. In analysing this article, the
obvious conclusion is that it was a piece of
propaganda written for the public. Although,
what this author has written may not have been
false, it does seem to ignore the primary issues
about the Kew establishment. The contention of
this article focuses on the importance of how the
establishment was built and does away with
that gaol appearance and feeling inculcated by
the high walls of old asylums,21. Based on this
article alone, the
Kew Asylum seems
like an excellent
arrangement22.
However, no less
than seven months
later, another article
was released by the
Parliamentary
Library23 that
reported the
impoverished
conditions in Kew.
The Parliamentary
report argues the
complete opposite
Hospitals for the
Insane/Mental Hygiene Act,
of the vagabond
1933
article. Whether
20
21
22
23

this article was written as a public relations

exercise or was a genuine report of one persons
experience in the facility is up to speculation.
However, this article seems to have been funded
by the asylum itself, to counter public criticism
and provide a positive view of the institution.
These conflicting articles highlight the potential
discomfort of those assigned responsibility for
management of the Kew asylum and illustrate
the perceived value in rallying public support.

1933: Mental Hygiene Act and the World

Wars.

One of the most interesting title changes to Kew

was by the Mental Hygiene Act of 1933. This new
legislation was not only for the benefit for those
pre-existing patients, but for the arrival of new
patients proceeding the First World War. Many
soldiers returning home after the war had
developed mental issues, such as post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)24. This, in turn, created a
need for new facilities. Although, this legislation
came many years after the war had ended. It is
important to highlight that the push for a new
legislation seemingly had been driven by the
influx of soldiers not for the improvement of
pre-existing patients in Kew25. This specific Act
had limited scope of change. Much of the
amendments were to the previous Lunacy Act,
with the exception of changing the name from
'House of the Insane' to 'Mental Hospital'26.
Although this Act did not promote substantial

24 Neil Rees, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future:

is Victorian Mental Health Law Ripe for Reform? paper
A Vagabond, 'A Month in Kew Asylum and Yarra Bend',
given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th
The Argus, 22nd July 1876, 4, in Trove [online database]
Anniversary Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
accessed 6th October 2015
<
A Vagabond, 'A Month in Kew Asylum and Yarra Bend',
http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHR
The Argus, 22nd July 1876, 4, in Trove [online database]
B%2BConference%2BPaper.pdf> accessed 15th October
th
accessed 6 October 2015
2015, 1 6.
Ibid.
25 'Mental Patients Increasing', The Argus, 10th June 1949, 5,
in Trove [online database], accessed 6th October 2015
'Kew Lunatic Asylum', The Age, 21st December 1876, in
th
Trove [online database], accessed 6 October 2015
26 Mental Hygiene Act 1993 (Vic) s1

5
change within the hospitals, the development of of the people previously housed in institutional
medications in this period had a profound affect. care were left to find their own way in the world.
After the Second World War, the discovery of
The few hospitals that remained have been
Lithium carbonate27, a mood stabliser28 and
reformed and the patients are treated more
29
chlorpromazine, an anti-psychotic , greatly
humanely. No longer physically prisoners, but
developed the treatment of patients. In this
many still prisoners of their own minds.
respect it was new technology rather than new Individuals with mental illness are no longer
legislation and improved funding that provided treated like prisoners within uncaring
the impetus for substantial change.
institutions. However, the dismantling of the
institutional system and failure to replace it with
So what does it all matter now? This phase in
adequate community care has striking parallels
management of mental health has passed, yet, with the attempts to appear to reform the
yet is still significant to the hospitalization of
historical mental health system by simply
people with mental illnesses today. The
making changes to the names of institutions.
numerous name changes of Kew Hospital
According to the findings in the Report of the
highlighted the efforts to create a facade for the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People
public. Tracing the evolution of the titles given with Mental Illness (1993), the savings resulting
Kew Hospital shows the progressing attempts to from the decommission of institutions have not
humanise the patients and in turn, the attempts been redirected into mental health services in
to improve the patients lives. Prior to the 1950s, the community30. In more recent times, the
the approach to these patients often had
National Disability Insurance Scheme has laid
detrimental effects on their mental and physical out plans to create some positive changes, and
well-being. The majority of these hospitals were give people with all types of disabilities and their
deemed a place for incarceration, not
carers a change to control their own lives
rehabilitation. Subsequent to the 1950s, the
without taking away their current support
introduction of medications and adequate
systems. This is a progression from the past
treatments for the patients had an enormous
treatment of people with disabilities and
effect on how these hospitals had operated. Since provides some hope for an end to the tradition of
the late 1800s in Australia, the approach to
dealing with the image and not the issues in
people with mental, and physical, illnesses had mental health care.
come a long way. People were no longer being
locked away in prison-like rooms because of
their illnesses. Nor were patients punished to
hinder them from 'acting out'. The practices in
these Australian hospitals were used worldwide,
Kew Hospital was decommissioned in 1988.
Other hospitals followed suit. Of the 42 mental
health hospitals in operation across Australian
history, only about 10 remain today. Once the
institutions were decommissioned, the majority
27 Gretchen Reevy et al., Encyclopedia of Emotion
30
(California: Greenwood, 2011), 353.
28
Cathy Melfi Curtis, et al., Psychiatic Mental Health
Nursing Success (USA: F. A. Davis Company, 2013), 296.
29 Cathy Melfi Curtis, et al., Psychiatic Mental Health
Nursing Success (USA: F. A. Davis Company, 2013), 15.

Australian Human Rights Commission, Report of the

National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with
Mental Illness (1993)
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/report-national-inquiryhuman-rights-people-mental-illness, accessed 17th October
2015

6
Bibliography:
Primary:
A Vagabond, 'A Month in Kew Asylum and Yarra Bend', The Argus, 22nd July 1876, 4, in
Trove [online database] accessed 6th October 2015
'Conditions At Kew Mental Hospital: Doctors Demand Improvement', The Argus, 8th October
1935, 12, in Trove [online database] accessed 10th October 2015
'Idiots' New Castle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate, 23rd March 1889, in Trove [online
database], accessed 9th October 2015
'Kew Asylum Buildings: Inspection Permitted, Disgraceful Conditions', The Argus, 9th
February 1922, 7, in Trove [online database] accessed 11th October 2015
'Kew Lunatic Asylum', The Age, 21st December 1876, in Trove [online database], accessed
6th October 2015
'Kew Mental Asylum Conditions', Daily Examiner, 26th June 1947, 1, in Trove [online
database], accessed 10th October 2015

Legal Provision Act 1843 (Vic) s3

'Lunatics Asylum: Shocking Neglect' The Argus, 7th February 1922, 7, in Trove [online
database] accessed 11th October 2015
Mental Hygiene Act 1993 (Vic) s1
'Mental Patients Increasing', The Argus, 10th June 1949, 5, in Trove [online database],
accessed 6th October 2015

Secondary:
Australian Human Rights Commission, Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights
of People with Mental Illness (1993) https://www.humanrights.gov.au/report-nationalinquiry-human-rights-people-mental-illness, accessed 17th October 2015
Curtis, Cathy Melfi, et al., Psychiatic Mental Health Nursing Success (USA: F. A. Davis
Company, 2013)
Rees, Neil, Learning from the past, Looking to the Future: is Victorian Mental Health Law
Ripe for Reform? paper given Mental Health Review Board of Victorias 20th Anniversary
Conference, Melbourne, 6th December 2007
<http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/MHRB%2BConference%2BPaper.pd
f> accessed 15th October 2015.
Reevy, Gretchen, et al., Encyclopedia of Emotion (California: Greenwood, 2011)
State Library of Victoria, 1912-1952: A Terrible Reproach to the Public Conscience Kew

7
Cottages [website] (2015) <http://www.kewcottageshistory.com.au/> accessed 12th
October 2015
Victoria, Parliament, Health, Mental, Victoria,
http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/component/daPublicBaseContainer?component
=daViewFunction&entityId=128 accessed 9th October 2015
Victoria, Parliament, Kew, Victoria, 2005
<http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/component/daPublicBaseContainer?compone
nt=daViewAgency&breadcrumbPath=Home/Access%20the%20Collection/Browse%20Th
e%20Collection/Agency%20Details&entityId=2840> accessed 8th October 2015
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1. Charles Nettleton, Kew Lunatic Asylum Australia [image] (ca. 1885-87)
<http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=MAIN&docId=SLV_VO
YAGER1718254&fn=permalink> accessed 17th October 2015
2. Horrors of Kew Asylum [image] (1876)
<http://cpn.unimelb.edu.au/psychiatric_nursing_history_archive/the_history_archive/photographs_an
d_film> accessed 18th October 2015
3. 'Idiots' New Castle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate, 23rd March 1889, in Trove

[online database], accessed 9th October 2015

4. Mental Hygiene Act 1993 (Vic)