Organisation

AGY-6426 | Rabbit Island Hospital for the Insane (1910-1917) Rabbit Island Mental Hospital (1917-1936) Peat and Milson Islands Mental Hospital / Peat and Milson Islands Hospital (1936-1973) Peat Island Hospital (1973-1989) Peat Island Centre (1989-2010)

NSW State Archives Collection
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Full description

Premises originally built as an inebriates institution for women at Rabbit Island in 1904 (1), were established as a Hospital for the Insane on 22 December 1910, (2) initially in order to provide temporary residences for male patients of the ‘chronic’ class. (3) The first patients who arrived on 24 March 1911 consisted of 20 males aged between 16 and 52. A further 20 male patients arrived in the next week. The patients who were admitted to Rabbit Island Hospital for the Insane in 1911 were generally transferred from the overcrowded wards of Parramatta Hospital for the Insane (later known as Cumberland Hospital) (AG 62) and Newcastle Asylum for Imbeciles and Idiots (later known as James Fletcher Hospital) (AG 66). (4)

By the 1920’s the Rabbit Island Mental Hospital was overcrowded, and so more land was required for Hospital accommodation. (5) Milson Island was the logical choice for the new Hospital both because it was located 1.5 miles west of Rabbit Island, and comprised 80 acres of land. The Island, originally known as Mud Island, had been purchased by the Chief Secretary in 1901 in order to establish an inebriates institution for men, but was never utilised for this purpose. By 1908 however, an experimental farm had been established “for the purposes of investigating the means of exterminating rabbits”. (6) From 1908 to 1920, the Island had also been used “as a temporary quarantine station; and as a hospital to treat soldiers from the First World War afflicted with venereal disease’’. (7)

On 25 February 1921, Crown Land on Milson Island was reserved from sale or lease for the purposes of a Mental Hospital, under s. 28 and 29 of the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (Act No. 7, 1913). Patients were transferred from Rabbit Island in the same month. (8) The Crown Land on Rabbit and Milson Islands was officially dedicated as a Mental Hospital on 8 August 1924, under s. 24 of the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913, and s. 8 of the Public Trusts Act 1897 (Act No.8, 1897). The Hospital was to be known as the “Mental Hospital, Rabbit Island”. (9) Rabbit and Milson Islands Hospitals, therefore, “operated as one institution’’. (10)

By September 1933, there were 429 patients in residence at the Hospitals: 254 at Milson Island and 175 at Rabbit Island. Overall, the problem of overcrowding appeared to have eased somewhat, particularly on Milson Island where there were 71 beds available, although Rabbit Island still had a shortage of at least three beds. (11)

While other Mental Hospitals were generally administered by a Medical Superintendent, Rabbit Island was administered by the Officer-in-Charge. By January 1931, George Cross had been appointed to the position. Medical care on the islands was primarily provided by Medical Officers visiting from other Mental Hospitals including Dr Robert Hardman who visited the island from c.1926 until his appointment a (resident) Temporary Medical Officer on 3 August 1935. He was succeeded by Dr G. Gatenby on 5 December 1938. (12)

In 1936, “Rabbit Island was renamed to honour George Peat, the local pioneer who had blazed the northbound coastal road and had started the ferry service across the river in the mid-nineteenth century. The hospital would be known as Peat and Milson Islands Mental Hospital after this time”. (13)

By mid 1956, Peat and Milson Islands Mental Hospital was primarily an admitting hospital for male adult and juvenile patients who were considered ‘congenital mental defectives’. (14) By 30 June 1956, there were 598 patients at the Hospital, and the grounds covered 113 acres on the two island which were situated “in the Hawkesbury River about 30 Miles North of Sydney.” (15)

By June 1973, Milson Island Hospital was closed because it was considered to be “highly unsatisfactory” with overcrowded and dilapidated buildings which posed a security and fire risk. (16) The patients from the Island were then “transferred to Callan Park, Stockton, Parramatta, Rydalmere, and Marsden Hospitals, and Marsden Rehabilitation Centre”. As a result of the closure of the Hospital plans were “in progress to further modernize the ward facilities and provide additional beds on Peat Island’”. (17)

Patients were admitted under the provisions of the Lunacy Act 1898 (Act No.45, 1898), and the Mental Health Act 1958 (Act No.45, 1958). Not until the Mental Health Act 1983 (Act No.178, 1983) was the definition of a mentally ill person specifically excluding anyone with a "developmental disability of mind.” (18)

In July 1989, responsibility for both Developmental Disability Services and the hospital was transferred from Health Department (AG 53) to the Department of Family and Community Services (later known as the Department of Community Services) (AG 114). The Hospital was also renamed the Peat Island Centre. The main purpose of this administrative change was to apparently emphasize the difference between intellectual disability and mental illness. Therefore, responsibility for mental health remained with the Department of Health. (19)

In April 2001, responsibility for Disability Services and the Peat Island Centre were again transferred from the Department of Community Services to the newly created Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (AG 2107). (20)

The 2000’s were marked by substantial progress both in the de-institutionalisation of and integration into the community of people with intellectual and physical disabilities. This was reflected in the progressive closure of Large Residential Centres for people with disabilities, which were under the control and management of Disability Services within the Department of Community Services, followed by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. In 2004 to 2005, the Department operated 15 Large Residential Centres which included the Peat Island Centre. (21)

In May 2006, Stronger together: a new direction for Disability Services: 2006-2016 was launched by the Premier, Morris Iemma, and the Minister for Disability, John Della Bosca. (22) This plan gave “a clear commitment to close Large Residential Centres (LRCs) over time and to redevelop some LRCs as Specialist Support Services.” (23) By June 2006, eight of the Large Residential Centres had closed, and by mid 2007 preliminary planning work had commenced in relation to the remaining Large Residential Centres including the Peat Island Centre. (24)

The closure of Peat Island “Large Residential Centre and the construction of two new purpose-built services for Peat Island residents” was officially announced on 8 November 2007. (25) The Director-General of the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Brendan O’Reilly, said that the main reason for the closure of the centre was that it no longer provided “the type or standard of accommodation that residents, many of who are ageing, need.” (26)

In January 2009, The Minister for Disability Services, Paul Lynch, confirmed the State Government’s plans to close the Peat Island Centre by 2010, and to relocate the Residents of the Centre. Tenders were therefore called for by the Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care to “build modern accommodation and facilities on the Central Coast for people with an intellectual disability.” (27) Most of the residents of the Peat Island Centre were to be relocated to an aged care village providing accommodation for up to 100 people with an intellectual disability at Hamlyn Terrace, Wyong. The younger residents of the Peat Island Centre were to be relocated to a group of community homes at Wadalba. (28) By November 2009, 77 men and women with an intellectual disability were living at the Peat Island Centre “their ages ranging from 40 to 85.” (29)

On 1 July 2009, responsibility for the Peat Island Centre was again transferred from the (abolished) Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care to Ageing, Disability and Home Care, which was a branch of the newly created Department of Human Services. (30)

In February 2010, the first 10 residents moved into the Community homes at Wadalba, and 10 more were to move into the other houses. Residents remaining at the Peat Island Centre were to move into the Village at Hamlyn Terrace by mid 2010. (31) The Centre appears to have closed in late 2010, as the remaining 53 residents had relocated to the aged care village by October 2010. (32) In February 2011, the village which had “been named by residents as Casuarina Grove was officially opened by the Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose along with the member for Wyong, David Harris’’. (33)

Editorial note
Throughout this administrative history, every care has been taken to use appropriate and respectful language to refer to the people who have called the Peat Island Centre their home. However, the language that has been used historically to refer to people with either an Intellectual or Physical Disability or a Mental Illness may cause offence to some.

Endnotes
1. Ellmoos, L, Andersen, S (Oral Historian) Our Island Home: a history of Peat Island, Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW, Sydney, 2010, pp.16-19; Inspector-General of the Insane, Report for the year ended 30 June 1910, pp.1, 4 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1911-1912, Third Session, Vol. 2, pp.397, 400; Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Report for the year ended 30 June 1957, pp.13-14 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1958, Fourth Session Vol. No.1, pp.969-970.
2. NSW Government Gazette No.193, 29 December 1910, p.7009.
3. Inspector-General of the Insane, Report for the year ended 30 June 1910, op. cit., pp.1, 4.
4. Loc. cit.; Ellmoos, L, op. cit., pp.26-27; Inspector-General of the Insane, Report for the year ended 30 June 1911, pp.1-5 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1912, Vol. 1, pp. 743-747; NRS 18467, Register of patients and admission book [Peat and Milson Island Hospital], 1911-1958.
5. Ellmoos, L, ibid., p. 29
6. Ibid., pp.12, 16-19; Entry for ‘Milson Island’ in the ‘Hawkesbury Peoples and Places Gazetteer from the Hawkesbury People and Places Website http://www.hawkesbury.org/?c=placenames&action=view&placenameid=82443&term=Milson+Island (accessed 31 March 2011); Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Report for the year ended 30 June 1957, op.cit., pp.13-14.
7. Ellmoos, L, ibid., p.29.
8. Loc. cit: NSW Government Gazette No.28, 25 February 1921, p.1424.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.103, 8 August 1924, p.3950.
10. Ellmoos, L, op. cit., p.29.
11. Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals: Copies of reports of tours of inspection of mental hospitals: Rabbit Island, Inspection Notes (1926-1933): Inspection Report for 26th September, 1933, SRNSW: NRS 5578, [12/1413.2].
12. Loc. cit.; Ellmoos, L, op. cit., p.29; Public Service List 1933, p.11; Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Report for the year ended 30 June 1939, p.25 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1938-1939-1940, Vol. 5, p.1503.
13. Ellmoos, L, ibid., p. 36; Entry for ‘Peat Island’ in the ‘Hawkesbury Peoples and Places Gazetteer from the Hawkesbury People and Places Website http://www.hawkesbury.org/?c=placenames&action=view&placenameid=82440&term=Peat+Island (accessed 31 May 2011).
14. Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Report for the year ended 30 June 1956, p.3 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1957-1958, Third Session, Vol. 1, p.933.
15. Loc. cit.
16. Health Commission of NSW, Report for the year ended 30 June 1973, pp.49-52 in New South Wales Parliamentary Papers 1973-1974, Vol. 2, pp.111-114.
17. Loc. cit.
18. Mental Health Act 1983 (Act No 178, 1983), s.5 (2) (f).
19. The Department of Health Annual Report 1989-1990, pp. 8-9; Department of Community Service Annual Report 1991-1992, pp.8-41; New South Wales Government Directory 1989, Sixth Edition, pp.155-157, 163-165; Update Edition to the New South Wales Government Directory 1989, Seventh Edition, pp.164, 173-185; Ellmoos, L, op. cit., p.106.
20. Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care (first) Annual Report 2000-2001, pp.1-14.
21. Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2003-2004, pp.18-19; Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2004-2005, p.15.
22. Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2005-2006, p.8.
23. Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2007-2008, p.61.
24. Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2005-2006, op.cit., p.17: Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2006-2007, p.39; Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2007-2008, pp. 7-86.
25. ‘Large Residential Centre closures’ NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DAHDC) Connections, Issue 17, March 2008, p.4 from the Ageing, Disability, and Home Care, Department of Human Services Website http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/227841/Connections17.pdf (accessed 31 March 2011).
(26) Loc. cit.
27. Media Release, Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care, ‘Peat Island project tenders called’ 14 January 2009 from the Ageing, Disability, and Home Care, Department of Human Services Website (accessed 24 March 2011). (Please note, copies of any ministerial press releases issued prior to 4 March 2011 are no longer available on this website).
28. Loc. cit.; Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care Annual Report 2008-2009, pp. 8-128: ‘Living Independently and Being included in the Community’ People with Disabilities (PWD) E- Bulletin, Issue 50. Special Edition, February 2009, pp.1-10 from the PWD Website http://www.pwd.org.au/documents/pubs/EB50.html (accessed 31 March 2011).
29. Ellmoos, L, op. cit., p.6.
30. Department of Human Services (first) Annual Report 2009-2010, pp.7, 73-75, 204, 282; Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 12 and 13,; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009; ‘Our structure’ from the Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Family and Community Services Website http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/about/our_structure (accessed 10 June 2011).
31. Ferguson, D ‘Message from Regional Director’ in Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW, (Regional) Metro North Newsletter, April 2010, pp.1-2 from the Western Sydney Community Forum Website http://www.wscf.org.au/uploads/2010uploads/HACC/Metro-North-April-2010-newsletter.pdf (accessed 31 March 2011).
32. Stein, K ‘Village first of its kind in NSW’ Australian Senior Publications, posted 28 February 2011 from the Australian Senior Website Welcome to The Australian Senior (accessed 31 March 2011).
33. ‘New $42m Village for Persons with a Disability Opens in NSW, Australia’ Posted 02/03/2011, Disability News Articles for Australia, NSW from the Disabled World Website http://www.disabled-world.com/news/australia-nz/nsw/disability-village.php (accessed 31 March 2011).

References
(1) Stephen Garton, Medicine and Madness: a social history of insanity in New South Wales 1880-1940. Sydney, New South Wales University Press, 1988.
(2) NSW Government Directories, 1977-1999.
(3) NSW State Departmental Telephone Books / Government Phone Books 1967-1983.
(4) Public Service Lists, 1910-1960.
 

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