Karori Lunatic Asylum

Karori Lunatic Asylum
Ground plan of Karori Lunatic Asylum in 1865 [1]
Geography
Location	Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°17′05″S174°44′31″E / 41.2847°S 174.742°E / -41.2847; 174.742
Organisation
Care system	Public
Funding	Wellington Province
Type	Specialist
Services
Beds	1–27 [2]
Speciality	Psychiatric
History
Opened	1854
Closed	1873 [3]
Links
Lists	Hospitals in New Zealand

Karori Lunatic Asylum was run by the Wellington Province of New Zealand between 1854 and 1873. It was the colony's first independent lunatic asylum, which was not part of a prison.

An individual could be certified as a lunatic by a legal and medical process. Lunatics usually had mental disorders or cognitive impairments. Those who did not have anyone to care for them and were not believed to be a danger to the public could be admitted to an asylum. They would stay until they were certified as recovered and were discharged, or they died. The only treatment was moral management, a routine usually consisting of work or exercise, recreations and religious services, which allowed some patients to recover. The staff were laypeople who were supposed to treat patients humanely and model orderly behaviour.

Karori is now the westernmost suburb of Wellington, but, in the mid-1800s, it was a rural village isolated from the city by a poor road. The asylum opened in 1854, and the number of patients grew gradually until the mid-1860s. After that, the number of patients grew more rapidly than the resources to house and care for them. This led to overcrowding throughout the asylum. It also led to understaffing, particularly on the women's wing. Supervision of the asylum lacked rigour and independent oversight proved ineffective. In 1872, a provincial inquiry found a history of patients being ill-treated by two long-serving staff leaders. The leaders were replaced.

In 1871, the parliamentary committee on lunatic asylums singled out Karori for urgent improvement. The provincial council responded by building Mount View Lunatic Asylum. It could accommodate twice as many patients as Karori and was closer to Wellington city so easier to inspect. In 1873, Karori asylum closed after its patients and staff moved to Mount View. The shortcomings of Karori Lunatic Asylum were used to justify replacing lay leaders of asylums with medical practitioners.

History

Opening and gradual growth (1854–1864)

Karori Lunatic Asylum opened in January 1854 with one male patient cared for by a male keeper (or master). ^[4] The asylum was a former private house on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) section. Wellington city was 4 miles (6.4 km) away on a poor road. ^[5] The section, with a corner on the main Karori Road and Donald Street, is now occupied by Karori Normal School. ^[6]

There had been asylums at Wellington and Auckland prisons since 1844, but Karori was the colony's first independent lunatic asylum. ^[7] The most common causes of lunacy were hereditary or head injuries, usually sustained through violence or while intoxicated with alcohol. ^[8] The legal framework was created by the Lunatics Ordinance 1846. At the request of two justices of the peace, two medical practitioners could certify an individual as a lunatic and later certify that they had recovered. A lunatic could be admitted to an asylum if they were not believed to be a danger to the public. They would stay until they recovered and were discharged, they were collected by friends or family who agreed to care for them or they died. Although lunatics could be admitted to prisons or general hospitals, ^[9] asylums were preferred. ^{[10] [7]}

Asylum staff were not medically trained. ^[7] They were expected to follow the principles of moral management and non-restraint. ^[11] Moral management kept patients active with a routine of physical work or exercise, recreations and religious services. ^[7] Non-restraint confined violent or destructive patients to padded cells instead of physically restraining them. ^[11]

From 1857, Karori asylum had a visiting medical officer who cared for the physical health of patients and wrote status reports. ^[12] In 1859, ^[a] William and Elizabeth Sutherland were appointed as keeper and matron. ^{[14] [16]} They continued until 1872, ^[17] the year before the asylum closed.

In 1861, doctor Charles France succeeded doctor Alexander Johnston as medical officer. Their 1861 and 1862 status reports with later recollections by Johnston detailed day-to-day life at the asylum. It was divided by gender. The keeper and a male attendant (or assistant) cared for four men, while the matron cared for six women. ^{[18] [b]} The male patients tended a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) kitchen garden, ^[20] which made the asylum self-sufficient in vegetables. ^[21] They also prepared firewood. The female patients sewed and cleaned clothes. ^[18] Patients were usually allowed out around the section, ^[20] which had another 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) flower garden. ^[21] At Karori asylum, patient activities were limited to work and exercise. There were no recreations and no access to religious services. ^{[20] [18]} Patients could be physically restrained in a straitjacket, ^[20] and they could be punished by being confined. France visited at least twice a week, ^[18] and he continued as the medical officer until the asylum closed in 1873. ^[22]

According to Williams (1987), a history of psychiatric hospitals in the Wellington Region, the 1861 and 1862 status reports "... suggested that the asylum was running an effective service for the mentally ill." ^[23]

Rapid growth and decision to replace (1865 –May 1872)

From 1865, the number of patients at Karori Lunatic Asylum began to grow more rapidly. ^[5] The provincial council added a little more patient accommodation (wards) then appointed a few staff. But the asylum's resources became inadequate to care for the number of patients.

Karori Lunatic Asylum growth 1862–1871 ^[c]

Month	Patients	Staff	Wards	Cells
May 1862	10: 6 female, 4 male	3: 2 male, 1 female	8 [18] [d]
January 1865	12 [25]
April 1865			10	4 [1] [e]
April –May 1867	19: 12 female, 7 male [27]	3: 2 male (including cook), 1 female [28]
July 1870	21: 13 female, 8 male	4: 3 male (including cook), 1 female [29]
January 1871	20: 10 female, 10 male		17 [25] [f] [g]
Late 1871	23: 12 male, 11 female	5: 3 male, 1 female, 1 cook	13	4 [13] [h]

Most patients were from the British Isles. ^[32] Only two Māori people are known to have been admitted, both in 1866. ^{[33] [34]}

By 1867, Karori asylum's official visitors were Jonas Woodward and John Johnston, ^[14] the local member of parliament who lived nearby. ^[35] In May, the visitors reported the asylum was not satisfactory. It had reached its capacity of 19 patients and was understaffed. They noted dilapidated buildings and disagreed on whether the asylum was well managed. The provincial council responded by allocating funds for improvement. ^[27] Understaffing was worst on the women's wing where the matron continued to work alone. ^[29] In 1868, a newspaper report said "... the matron's very irksome duties would be much lessened by the help of a female assistant." ^[35]

The Lunatics Act 1868 formalised regular independent inspections of asylums. ^{[7] [36]} In June 1870, the new role of inspector was filled by Thomas Adolphus Bowden, ^[37] but Woodward and Johnston stopped visiting. ^[38] In January 1871, Bowden wrote a detailed status report. Of the 20 patients, 10 female and 10 male, 80% were believed to be incurable including all the women. ^[25] Bowden noted the shortage of staff accommodation. The male attendants were sleeping on the kitchen floor, while a female attendant could not be appointed until a room was found for her. Bowden recommended replacing the asylum. ^[5] After he resigned in June 1871, ^[38] a year passed before Karori asylum's next inspector and official visitors were appointed. ^[39]

Later in 1871, the parliamentary committee on lunatic asylums produced an improvement plan, which singled out Karori for urgent attention. ^[20] The committee's chairman, doctor Andrew Buchanan, made an inspection. He wrote that the 23 patients, 12 male and 11 female, were well fed, and their treatment appeared to be humane. However, the asylum was overcrowded, the male patients were idle indoors, the female patients never went outdoors for exercise, there was no bathroom and, apart from the medical officer, there had been few visitors. Buchanan also recommended replacing Karori with an asylum that was better resourced and equipped, and closer to Wellington city so it would be easier to inspect. ^[13] The provincial council agreed and started to build Mount View Lunatic Asylum on a site overlooking the city. ^[40] It was designed to accommodate 50 patients, ^[41] twice the number then at Karori. The site is now occupied by Government House in the suburb of Newtown. ^[42]

In September 1871, a female attendant finally joined Karori asylum. Mary McDonald arrived from an asylum in Tasmania with over two years experience in a similar role. ^[31] McDonald noticed ill-treatment of some female patients by the matron. She raised her concerns with France then the provincial council who ordered an inquiry.

Inquiry into ill-treatment (April –May 1872)

Public hearings were held in late April. McDonald alleged the matron had subjected some female patients to sustained verbal and physical abuse with unjustified physical restraint and confinement. ^[31] A male attendant gave some support to McDonald's allegations. He and the cook had also seen male patients struck. Matron Elizabeth Sutherland admitted occasionally striking patients, with her hand or a length of supplejack, when she felt they had misbehaved or had not followed her orders. However, two of the matron's alleged victims, the other attendant and the medical officer did not raise concerns. ^[16] Newspaper coverage brought forth more witnesses, ^[43] so the hearings were extended.

Two former staff members alleged that the Sutherlands had been ill-treating patients for some years. William Dunn, an attendant August 1868 –May 1871, read accounts of violent incidents from his diary. ^[38] James Sproul (or Sproule) was the cook March 1866 –December 1867. He raised concerns about ill-treatment with medical officer France and official visitor Johnston. ^[44] Sproul was then dismissed, for work and personal failings according to France and keeper William Sutherland. Former official visitor Woodward raised one violent incident by the keeper, but former inspector Bowden had no concerns. ^[38]

The inquiry report, published on 4 May, concluded "... patients have been treated with unnecessary violence ...". It also criticised France for not noticing the ill-treatment and said he needed to supervise the asylum more rigorously. ^[45] Vacancies for an inspector and two official visitors were filled. ^[39]

The Sutherlands apparently resigned. ^[17] They were then charged with ill-treating patients in their care under the Lunatics Act 1868: ^{[46] [47]} two counts for Elizabeth and one for William. They were convicted on all charges but were fined the minimum amounts because they had already been dismissed. ^[48]

New leadership and closure (June 1872 –May 1873)

In mid-May 1872, Henry and Charlotte Seager were appointed as the keeper and matron of Karori Lunatic Asylum. ^{[17] [49]} Henry had worked at Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum in Christchurch. Sunnyside was led by Henry's brother Edward who was widely regarded as one of the colony's most progressive and effective keepers. ^{[50] [51]} The Seagers led Karori asylum in its final year. Although the leadership had changed, the issue of caring for a growing number of patients with inadequate resources had not.

In July, an inspector did not find any patients restrained or confined. ^[52] Another inspector visited in August and September. He wrote that the number of patients had grown to 26, 13 male and 13 female. The number of staff was unchanged at five: the keeper, two male attendants, the matron and a female attendant. ^[53] Both inspectors declined to comment on accommodation at Karori asylum but anticipated that Mount View would be better resourced. These were the last known independent inspections of Karori asylum.

Henry Seager wrote to the Wellington superintendent explaining how the range of activities for patients had been expanded at little cost. Male patients landscaped the section and planted trees for the new asylum. Female patients did housework led by the Seagers's eldest daughter. Recreations included musical events and visits to Eden Vale nursery and tea garden, ^[54] also on Donald Street. ^[55] Anglican patients attended services at St Mary's Church, ^[56] across Karori Road. ^[57]

In May 1873, Karori Lunatic Asylum closed after 27 patients moved to Mount View. The Seagers and medical officer France continued in their roles at the new asylum. ^[58]

Legacy

According to Williams (1987), the shortcomings of Karori Lunatic Asylum were blamed on its lay leadership rather than its inadequate resources or isolated location. Members of parliament used these shortcomings to justify replacing lay leaders of asylums with medical practitioners. ^[59]

Notes

1. In late 1871, Buchanan said the keeper and matron had been at Karori asylum for 13 years so they arrived in 1858. ^[13] Williams said William Sutherland was keeper from 1858. ^[14] However, the roles of keeper and matron at Karori asylum were advertised in July 1859. ^[15]
2. The attendant was male because the first female attendant was not appointed until 1871. ^[19]
3. An asylum status report typically contained the number of patients admitted, discharged, deceased and remaining. Further details about patients and resources were sometimes included.
4. In 1856, a wing had been added to the asylum building. ^[24]
5. In 1863, another wing had been added to the asylum building. ^[26]
6. In 1867, tenders were invited for adding further buildings and fences to the asylum. ^[30]
7. By 1871, the four cells, in a separate block from the asylum building, were being used as wards. ^[5]
8. Buchanan's inspection report said there was "... no female attendant except the matron, ...". The date of the inspection was not stated, but it was probably shortly before the report was published in November 1871. ^[13] Attendant Mary McDonald arrived at Karori asylum in September 1871. ^[31] It is not known why McDonald was not counted as a female attendant.

Citations

1. Knowles 1865.
2. Williams 1987, pp. 6, 21.
3. Williams 1990.
4. Williams 1987, pp. 5–6.
5. Bowden 1871, p. 4.
6. KHS 2011, pp. 113–114.
7. Brunton 2011.
8. Williams 1987, p. 12.
9. Lunatics Ordinance 1846 .
10. NZM 1871.
11. Williams 1987, p. 5.
12. Williams 1987, pp. 8, 12.
13. Buchanan 1871.
14. Williams 1987, p. 344.
15. NZSaCSG 1859.
16. WI 1872c.
17. WI 1872g.
18. France 1862.
19. Williams 1987, p. 345.
20. GA 1871.
21. Johnston 1861.
22. France 1873.
23. Williams 1987, p. 9.
24. NZSaCSG 1856.
25. Bowden 1871, p. 5.
26. NZSaCSG 1863.
27. WI 1867a.
28. Williams 1987, pp. 10–11.
29. Bowden 1870, p. 19.
30. WI 1867b.
31. WI 1872b.
32. Williams 1990, p. 18.
33. WI 1866a.
34. WI 1866b.
35. WI 1868.
36. Lunatics Act 1868 .
37. Williams 1987, p. 11.
38. WI 1872e.
39. Williams 1987, p. 15.
40. WI 1872a.
41. Travers 1875, p. 1.
42. GGNZ 2025, p. 1.
43. EP 1872.
44. WI 1872d.
45. WI 1872f.
46. NZM 1872.
47. Lunatics Act 1868 , cl 191.
48. WI 1872h.
49. Williams 1987, p. 23.
50. Williams 1987, pp. 15–16, 21.
51. Young 1990. sfn error: no target: CITEREFYoung1990 (help)
52. FitzGerald 1872.
53. Paley 1874.
54. Williams 1987, pp. 16, 18–21.
55. KHS 2011, p. 279.
56. KHS 2011, p. 301.
57. KHS 2011, p. 186.
58. Williams 1987, pp. 21, 23.
59. Williams 1987, p. 21.

References

• "Public Buildings". Provincial Council. The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 31 December 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Notice". Advertisments. The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 27 July 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 24 September 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, Charles (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". The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 21 February 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• Knowles, John. "Plan of Karori Lunatic Asylum" (10 April 1865). Department of Internal Affairs, Head Office 1840–1982, Series: 8333, ID: R24195397. Wellington: Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Department of Internal Affairs. 1984.
• "Maori Lunatic". Local and General News. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 3 February 1866. p. 5. Retrieved 13 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Lunacy". Local and General News. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 22 November 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 13 September 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.
• "Erecting additional buildings, fence, ... at the Lunatic Asylum, Karori". Tenders. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 26 October 1867. p. 1. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• "The Lunatic Asylum". Local and General News. The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 16 June 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2025– via Papers Past.
• Bowden, Thomas Adolphus (3 August 1870). Reports of Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. Retrieved 30 August 2025– via Papers Past.
• Bowden, Thomas Adolphus (17 January 1871). Reports of Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. pp. 4–6. Retrieved 24 August 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Report of the Joint Committee on Lunatic Asylums". Wellington: General Assembly. 1871. p. 3. Retrieved 10 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Lunatic Asylums". News of the Week. The New Zealand Mail. Wellington. 9 September 1871. p. 11. Retrieved 20 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• Buchanan, Andrew (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.
• "Karori Asylum Case". The Evening Post. Wellington. 4 May 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 7 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Resignation and Appointment". The Wellington Independent. Wellington. 10 May 1872. p. 4. Retrieved 20 August 2025– via Papers Past.
• "Late Master and Matron of Karori Lunatic Asylum". News of the Week. The New Zealand Mail. Wellington. 25 May 1872. p. 12. Retrieved 5 September 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.
• FitzGerald, James (27 July 1872). Reports of Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. p. 6. Retrieved 13 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• France, Charles (17 February 1873). Reports of Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 30 August 2025– via Papers Past.
• Paley, Edward (1874). General Report on Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 22 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• Travers, William Thomas Locke (23 August 1875). Lunatic Asylums of the Colony (Further Reports on) 1875 (Report). Wellington: General Assembly. Retrieved 27 September 2025– via Papers Past.
• Williams, Wendy Hunter (1987). Out of Mind Out of Sight: The Story of Porirua Hospital. Porirua Hospital.
• Williams, Wendy Hunter (1990). "Far from the Maddening Crowd: Karori Lunatic Asylum 1854–1873". New Zealand Legacy: Journal of the New Zealand Federation of Historical Societies. 2 (1). New Zealand Federation of Historical Societies: 16–18.
• Young, Sherwood (1990). "Seager, Edward William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
• Karori Historical Society (2011). Burch, Judith; Haynes, Jan (eds.). Karori and Its People. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN   978-1-877577-29-1.
• Brunton, Warwick (5 May 2011). "Mental Health Services - Lunatic Asylums, 1840s to 1900s". Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
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Further reading

• Major, Margaret (2015). "Rebecca Parnell". The Stockade. No. 47. Karori Historical Society. pp. 10–19. Retrieved 16 August 2025– via Wellington City Council Archives Online.
  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 mania, which was occasionally violent, after family difficulties and the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake. She was abused in care and died in Porirua Lunatic Asylum, which replaced Mount View.