Whitby Falls Hospital facts for kids

Whitby Falls Hospital was once a special hospital in Mundijong, Western Australia. It helped people who needed support with their mental health. When it closed in 2006, it had been open for a very long time. In fact, it was the longest-running hospital of its kind in Western Australia!

History of Whitby Falls Hospital

Early Days and New Beginnings

In 1897, the government of Western Australia bought a large piece of land. It was about one thousand acres, which is like 750 football fields! They bought it from a person named William Paterson for 7,000 pounds.

At that time, another hospital called Fremantle Lunatic Asylum was too full. So, the government decided to move some patients to Whitby Falls. These were patients who could help out on the farm and could be trusted with some freedom.

The old farmhouse on the property was made ready for 50 patients. On July 12, 1897, the first 12 patients arrived. In September, another 12 men moved there from Fremantle. By 1901, 46 patients were living at Whitby Falls Hospital.

Becoming an Asylum and Changes

On September 12, 1900, Whitby Falls was officially called an asylum. This meant it was a place for people with mental health conditions.

However, in 1903, a new leader, Dr. Sydney Hamilton Rowan Montgomery, thought Whitby Falls was too far away. He helped choose a new place for a hospital closer to Perth and Fremantle. This new hospital was built at Claremont.

After the new hospital opened, Whitby Falls Hospital became a helper to Claremont Hospital. They worked together on a dairy farm and raised cattle. This helped both hospitals.

In 1918, Whitby Falls Hospital started taking psychiatric patients from Claremont again. It continued to help people with mental health challenges.

Farming and Therapy

By 1932, there were not many patients at Whitby Falls Hospital. A government official said it was "first and foremost a farm." The farming program was very important. It helped patients with their therapy and rehabilitation.

The farm also made money for the hospital. They raised chickens, cows for milk, grew vegetables and fruit, and raised pigs and beef cattle. This showed how useful the farm was for both patients and the hospital's finances.

New Buildings and Modern Care

In 1958, the government built a brand new hospital building at Whitby Falls. It cost $100,000. This new building had two wards, which are like patient rooms, called "Jacaranda" and "Kookaburra." It also had rooms for activities, a kitchen, a laundry, and places for nurses and staff to live.

In 1963, another ward with 24 beds, called "Illawarra," was added. More rooms for staff were also built. The original farmhouse, which was built in 1854, was not used anymore and was taken down in 1971.

Transition and Closure

In 1972, Claremont Hospital was split into two new hospitals: Graylands Hospital and Swanbourne Hospital. Whitby Falls Hospital then became a special "transition hostel." It was connected to Graylands Hospital and helped male patients who needed long-term care.

From the 1980s, the Armadale Health Service helped provide care and services to the hostel. In 2000, a report looked at how Whitby Falls Hostel was doing. The report said that the hospital "did not meet modern mental health treatment standards." It also said that the people living there were "isolated from the community." This meant they couldn't easily mix with other people outside the hospital.

Because of this, the hospital was given to a private company to run. Eventually, Whitby Falls Hospital closed its doors in 2006.

Future Use

In 2012, the government announced that Murdoch University would use the Whitby Falls property. The university planned to expand its Veterinary School there. This means the land continues to be used for important purposes, even after the hospital closed.