Karori Lunatic Asylum

Karori Lunatic Asylum
Ground plan of Karori Lunatic Asylum c. 1871
Geography
Location	Karori, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°17′05″S174°44′31″E / 41.2847°S 174.742°E / -41.2847; 174.742
History
Opened	1854
Closed	1873 [1]
Links
Lists	Hospitals in New Zealand

Between 1854 and 1873, Karori Lunatic Asylum in Wellington, New Zealand held and cared for patients with mental disorders. They had been certified as lunatics, but were not considered a danger to the public. It was the country's first independent lunatic asylum, that was not part of a prison. Karori was then a rural village isolated by a poor road, but is now the westernmost suburb of Wellington.

At that time, asylums followed the principles of moral management. Staff behaved in a humane and orderly way towards patients, and gave them a routine of chores and leisure activities. But the staff were laypeople who simply managed the patients, they did not treat them.

Karori asylum offered an effective mental health service until the mid-1860s. However, by 1871, overcrowding and understaffing led a parliamentary committee to single it out for reform. This prompted Wellington Province to build a larger asylum in Wellington city as a replacement.

In 1872, a provincial inquiry concluded that the two staff leaders had been physically abusing patients. The leaders were dismissed, and the asylum returned to moral management under their replacements. Karori asylum was itself replaced by Mount View Lunatic Asylum in 1873.

History

Lunatics and asylums

The Lunatics Act 1846 enabled the colony to hold and care for lunatics: people who were "... dangerously insane ..." or "... of unsound mind." Two doctors and a magistrate could certify someone as a lunatic, and later certify that they had recovered. Lunatics who were considered a danger to the public were held in prisons. The rest were held in asylums or public hospitals. ^[2] The Constitution Act 1852 created the provinces, and made them responsible for asylums and hospitals. ^[3]

Asylums aspired to moral management and non-restraint. They aimed to create a way of life conducive to recovery. The staff in asylums were laypeople who were not trained to treat mental disorders. ^[4]

The superintendent of Dunedin asylum, James Hume, outlined moral management with "Patience, gentle treatment, nourishing diet, cleanliness with light employment or exercise goes far to recover the lunatic and in chronic [or incurable] cases serves to make them comfortable... Good example in the attendants is the greatest guide, and gives confidence to the patients." ^[4]

Asylum staff also aspired to non-restraint: a troubled patient would be confined in a padded cell instead of being physically restrained. ^[3]

Opened and expanded (1854–1865)

Karori Lunatic Asylum opened in 1854 with one patient and one member of staff. ^[5] Wellington and Auckland prisons already had asylums, but the first independent asylum was Karori. ^[4]

It asylum was on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) section, ^[6] which has a corner on Karori Road and Donald Street, where Karori Normal School is today. ^[7] Wellington city was 4 miles (6.4 km) away on a poor road. ^[8] The asylum building was a house, ^[9] which was extended in 1857. ^[10] By 1862, the section was enclosed in post-and-rail fencing. ^[11] It had a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) kitchen garden, that supplied most of the asylum's vegetables, and a flower garden of a similar size. ^[12] The house was further extended in 1863. ^[13]

In 1857, the first medical officer was appointed: a doctor who visited the asylum at least once a week to tend the physical health of the patients. ^[5] By 1862, medical officer France reported there were 10 patients. The number of staff had grown to three: the keeper (or master) and matron, Mr and Mrs William Sutherland, and an assistant (or attendant). ^[11]

There were two types of patient: chronic and acute. Chronic (or incurable) patients were held for life. A smaller number of acute patients were admitted then improved sufficiently to be discharged. ^[14] Karori asylum offered an effective mental health service during this period. ^[15]

Overcrowded (1866–May 1872)

In Karori asylum's later years, the number of patients, particularly chronic, grew more quickly. ^[14] However, no more accommodation was added. In 1867, official visitors reported that the asylum had 19 patients and it was full. They also said it was understaffed and dilapidated. ^[16]

By 1871, a parliamentary committee considering reform of asylums was aware of problems at Karori. Their report recommended improving asylums in general, but singled out Karori for "... immediate attention and reform." ^[17] The committee's chairman, doctor Andrew Buchanan, made an inspection.

Buchanan found Karori asylum overcrowded with 23 patients; the number of staff had also grown to five. The keeper and matron, the Sutherlands who had led the staff since 1858, seemed to be humane, and they showed Buchanan whatever he wanted to see. His report raised concerns about the lack of a bathroom, poorly clothed patients, including a naked woman in an unheated cell, and male patients idling indoors. Buchanan simply noted that "... females never go outside the house." Apart from the medical officer, France, there had been next to no visitors in months.

Buchanan recommended replacing Karori with a larger and better equipped asylum in Wellington city, which would make inspections easier. ^[18] The provincial council agreed, and started work on a site off Adelaide Road overlooking the city and harbour. ^[19]

In 1872, a provincial inquiry was held into the asylum. A newly arrived assistant had raised concerns about ill-treatment of patients by the matron and keeper. The assistant alleged the principles of moral management and non-restraint had been abandoned. And matron was regularly abusing patients, both verbally and physically. ^[20] Another assistant had been dismissed in 1867 shortly after raising similar concerns. ^[21] After hearing contradictory testimony, ^{[22] [23]} the inquiry concluded "... patients have been treated with unnecessary violence ..." They also expressed surprise that France had not noticed the abuse. ^[24] The Sutherlands were dismissed, and were later convicted of assaulting patients and fined. ^[25]

Closed (June 1872–May 1873)

Karori asylum returned to moral management under the new keeper and matron, Mr and Mrs Henry Seager. Henry had worked at Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum in Christchurch, which was led by his brother Edward Seager. ^[26] In May 1873, Karori Lunatic Asylum closed after 27 patients moved to Mount View Lunatic Asylum. The Seagers and medical officer France continued their roles at the new asylum. ^[27]

Karori School moved to the site of the former asylum in 1875. Renamed Karori Normal School in 1968, it is still there today. ^[28]

Legacy

The problems experienced at Karori Lunatic Asylum helped to convince Buchanan's parliamentary committee that asylums should be led by doctors not laypeople. ^[29]

Notes

1. Williams 1987, chpt. 1 Karori Lunatic Asylum 1854–1873.
2. Lunatics Act 1846 .
3. Williams 1987, p. 5.
4. Brunton 2022.
5. Williams 1987, pp. 5–6, 8.
6. Williams 1987, pp. 5–6.
7. Chapman & Wood 2019, p. 87.
8. HoR 1871a, p. 4.
9. Williams 1987, p. 6.
10. NZSaCSG 1856.
11. France 1862.
12. Johnston 1861.
13. NZSaCSG 1863.
14. HoR 1871a, p. 5.
15. Williams 1987, p. 9.
16. WI 1867a.
17. HoR 1871b.
18. Buchanan 1871.
19. WI 1872a.
20. WI 1872b.
21. WI 1872d.
22. WI 1872c.
23. WI 1872e.
24. WI 1872f.
25. WI 1872g.
26. Williams 1987, pp. 15–16, 18–21.
27. Williams 1987, pp. 21, 23.
28. KHS 2011, p. 114.
29. Williams 1987, p. 21.

References

• "Public Buildings". Provincial Council. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 31 December 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• Johnston, Alexander (9 May 1862) [23 October 1861]. "Reports Relating to the Lunatic Asylum at Karori". Council Papers. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• France, C (9 May 1862). "Report on Lunatic Asylum, Karori". Council Papers. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• "New Wing at Karori Lunatic Asylum". New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 21 February 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Karori Lunatic Asylum". Local and General News. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 14 May 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: House of Representatives. 1871. pp. 4–6. Retrieved 7 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Report of the Joint Committee on Lunatic Asylums". Wellington: House of Representatives. 1871. p. 3. Retrieved 10 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• Buchanan (16 November 1871). "The Lunatic Asylum at Karori". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• "New Lunatic Asylum". Local and General News. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 4 January 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Karori Lunatic Asylum Inquiry". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 26 April 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Karori Lunatic Asylum Inquiry". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 27 April 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Karori Lunatic Asylum Inquiry". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 29 April 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Karori Lunatic Asylum Inquiry". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 30 April 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Lunatic Asylum Inquiry". Provincial Council. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 4 May 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2025– via Papers Past.
• "The Karori Lunatic Asylum Case". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 12 June 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 7 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• Williams, Wendy Hunter (1987). Out of Mind Out of Sight: The Story of Porirua Hospital. Porirua Hospital.
• Karori Historical Society (2011). Burch, Judith; Haynes, Jan (eds.). Karori and Its People. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN   978-1-877577-29-1.
• Chapman, William; Wood, Katherine (2019). Karori Streets 1841–2019. Wellington: Karori Historical Society. ISBN   978-0-947493-92-9.
• Brunton, Warwick (5 May 2022). "Mental Health Services - Lunatic Asylums, 1840s to 1900s". Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

Further reading

• Major, Margaret (2015). "Rebecca Parnell". The Stockade. No. 47. Karori Historical Society. Retrieved 17 February 2025– via Google Docs.
  
  The life story of Rebecca Parnell (1832–1903), who, in 1857, was the first female patient admitted to Karori Lunatic Asylum. Born in England, Parnell developed chronic and occasionally violent mania after family difficulties and the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake. She was abused in care and died of cancer in Porirua Lunatic Asylum, which replaced Mount View.
  
  As of February 2025, ^[update] the Parnell article is not complete in the archive of The Stockade 47 magazine. Karori Historical Society posted the article on Google Docs while they are fixing the archive of the magazine.