AGY-69 | Callan Park Hospital for the Insane (1878-1914) / Callan Park Mental Hospital / Callan Park Hospital (1915-1976)

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On 11 June 1878 the buildings at Callan Park were appointed by the Governor to be a Public Lunatic Asylum.(1) The Report for the Inspector General of the Insane lists the proclamation date for Callan Park Hospital for the Insane as 1 August 1878, the hospital having prior to that date been managed as a branch of Gladesville Hospital. On 31 December 1878, 44 patients were resident at Callan Park, with a contract taken for the construction of a new Metropolitan Hospital at the site styled on the Chatham Asylum in England.(2) At the beginning of 1885 five wards had been opened, and during the year all new cases for Sydney and suburbs, plus 72 patients transferred from Gladesville Hospital to relieve overcrowding, were admitted. By the end of 1885 eight wards were opened, with an additional two wards furnished and ready for the reception of patients.(3) The building of Callan Park only temporarily alleviated persistent problems of overcrowding, and by 1961 a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate charges against the operation of Callan Park found overcrowding of the hospital to be the major problem, preventing proper administration and impeding therapy. (4) On 5 December 1958 the Cerebral Surgery and Research Unit was opened, it's purpose was to provide research into, and treatment of, neurological and psychiatric conditions and to inquire into the efficacy of drugs used in psychiatric treatment.(5) Both elective and emergency neurosurgical procedures were performed, including leucotomies.(6) Initially patients were admitted to the hospital under the provisions of the Lunacy Act 1843 (7 Vic Act No 14), and the Lunacy Act 1898 (Act No 45, 1898), with easier admission of voluntary patients provided for by the Lunacy (Amendment) Act 1934 (Act No39, 1934). In 1958 the provisions of the Mental Health Act (Act No 45, 1958), intended a more therapeutic, and less custodial, role for hospitals. On 1 September 1976 Rozelle Hospital was established (7) from the amalgamation of Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic with Callan Park Hospital.(8) FOOTNOTES 1. NSW Government Gazette 1878, 11 June 1878, p. 2309 2. Inspector General of the Insane, Report for 1879, Votes and Proceedings 1879-80, Vol 2, p.817 3. Inspector General of the Insane, Report for 1885, Votes and Proceedings 1885-86, Vol 2, p.509 4. Royal Commission of Inquiry in respect of certain matters relating to Callan Park Mental Hospital, 1960-61, Report, 1961, SRNSW Ref: 9/1094.1, p.14 5. ibid, p.135 6. Reports of the Director of State Psychiatric Services for the year ended 30 June 1967, in Parliamentary Papers 1968, First Session, p.580 7. NSW Government Gazette, 3 September 1976, p.3718 8. Report of the Health Commission of NSW for the year ended 30 June 1977, Parliamentary Papers 1976-78, Vol 7, p.866