Seaview Asylum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seaview Asylum |
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Seaview Asylum, c. 1904
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| Geography | |
| Location | North of Hokitika, West Coast Region, South Island, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 42°42′23″S 170°58′29″E / 42.706336°S 170.974857°E (approximate) |
| Organisation | |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Beds | 549 at peak |
| Speciality | Psychiatric hospital |
| History | |
| Closed | 2009 |
The Seaview Asylum (also known as Seaview Hospital) was a special hospital. It helped people with mental health conditions. It was located north of Hokitika in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. The hospital was next to the old Westland Hospital. Seaview Asylum was open for many years, from 1872 until 2009. It was once the biggest employer in Hokitika. The hospital also trained many nurses who specialized in mental health care.
Contents
Seaview Hospital's Story
Early Days and Patient Care
In the 1860s, Hokitika was growing fast. People who needed mental health care were first taken to the local jail. The jail quickly became too small. A new jail was built north of town at Seaview Terrace.
The first hospital in Hokitika was built in 1865. It later became Westland Hospital. This hospital could take a few mental health patients. However, after 1867, most patients were sent to Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch.
By 1869, sending patients to Sunnyside was no longer an option. Patients were kept in the jail again. This continued until the Seaview Asylum opened in 1872. The local government built this important hospital.
Hospital Leaders and Daily Life
Hugh and Winifred Gribben were in charge of Seaview from 1872 to 1904. Hugh was the superintendent, and Winifred was the matron. In the early years, patients helped with daily tasks. They did work around the hospital and learned trades.
In 1904, John Downey became the new superintendent. His wife served as the matron. By 1905, the hospital staff included the superintendent, matron, male and female attendants, and a laborer. In 1904, Dr. Duncan MacGregor suggested a new way to build hospitals. He wanted them to have a "villa hospital pattern." This meant building smaller, separate units. This made the hospital feel more like a community.
Training Nurses at Seaview
Nursing training started at Seaview in the 1930s. This was a big step for the hospital. It became a place where people could learn to be mental health nurses. The Seaview School of Psychiatric Nursing trained many students. It is thought that about 500 nurses graduated from this school. The nursing school closed in 1992.
Changes and Closure
In the 1990s, three parts of the hospital were closed. By 2002, the hospital board sold the asylum to a company that develops properties.
The number of patients at Seaview changed over time. In 1955, the hospital had the most patients, with 549 people. By 1996, the number dropped to 100 patients. When the hospital finally closed in 2009, only 22 patients remained.
After the hospital closed, the New Zealand Defence Force used the site. They used it for training exercises. These exercises included practicing urban warfare and search and rescue. They also practiced how to handle large crowds.
The hospital helped many different people. It cared for patients with intellectual disabilities. It also helped people with mental health conditions. Older people needing special care were also looked after. Like other similar hospitals in New Zealand, Seaview had a name that sounded nice. Names like Seacliff, Sunnyside, Cherry Farm, and Avondale often sounded like holiday spots. This sometimes hid the difficult experiences some patients had.
Seaview's Buildings and Land
Seaview Hospital was built on a large piece of land. This land was a government reserve. It was about 150 acres and had different levels or terraces. The main buildings included dormitories where patients slept. There were also single rooms and dining areas. The hospital even had a padded cell for safety.
The Seaview Lighthouse is a special building nearby. It was built in 1879 and is a registered historic place. At one point, people thought about tearing it down. But it was saved and used for other purposes. It served as an observation tower for the hospital. During World War II, it was a coast watch station. The lighthouse is also known as the Hokitika Lighthouse. It was repaired in 2002 by a group called Heritage Hokitika.
In 2017, a fire caused damage to some of the remaining buildings. Today, the land has fewer people living on it. Many of the old buildings are falling apart. The swimming pool and tennis courts are no longer used. However, you can still see parts like the nets and diving boards. One end of the main road through the area is still open, even though it is not kept up. The other end has been closed off because some of the land is being cleared.
Images for kids
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Hokitika Cemetery memorial for patients of Seaview Asylum and inmates of Hokitika Gaol who are buried in this cemetery without identification. Transcription: "In Memory of / the many / patients and inmates / of the / adjacent / Seaview Hospital / 1872–2007 / and Hokitika Jail / 1866–1909 / who were interred / in this cemetery / without identification"
