Traralgon (Hobson Park Hospital 1963-1971; Mental/Psychiatric Hospital 1971-1995)

Full description

Establishment and Development of Services

In 1963, the Township of Traralgon erected a hospital known as Ward 1 Hobson Park Hospital. The Mental Health Act 1959 (No.6605) designated hospitals providing short-term diagnosis and accommodation as "psychiatric hospitals". Therefore any institution could have a section designated as a mental hospital for long-term or indefinite hospitalization and a section designated as a psychiatric hospital for short term diagnosis and treatment of acute psychiatric illness. Any such designations of particular wards are published in the Government Gazette.

Patients could not be retained without a warrant requesting their admission. Prior to 1867 the warrant was signed by the Governor. After this date the Chief Secretary (VRG 26) was responsible for this function. From 1934 the Director of Mental Hygiene (VA 2865) and from 1952 the Chief Medical Officer of the Mental Hygiene Branch (VA 2866) were successively responsible for admission of patients.
Hobson Park Hospital is referred to as an informal hospital in annual reports of the Mental Hygiene Authority and Mental Health Authority until 1971, with the annual reports showing that only informal (voluntary) patients were admitted to Hobson Park.
From 1 September 1971 the land and buildings known as Hobson Park Hospital was formally renamed Traralgon Mental Hospital with the exception of the building known as Ward 1, which became Traralgon Psychiatric Hospital. However, the name, Hobson Park, continued to be used after that time to refer to either, or both.
Traralgon Mental Hospital and Traralgon Psychiatric Hospital closed in 1995.

Legislation

Mental Health Act, 1959, No. 6605
Health Commission Act 1977
Mental Health Act, 1986, No. 59