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Psychiatric Institutions of the Past
Image: Straightjacket (pre-1940)
Source: Museum Victoria
Large asylums were established for the collective institutionalisation of the mentally ill in Europe in the 1700s. This included the notorious Bedlam in London, where conditions and treatment of patients were considered severe and brutal.
Psychiatric institutions were first established in Australia in the mid 1800s. Many patients were institutionalised for life. They experienced a variety of illnesses including post-natal depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, bipolar disorder and dementia.
The 'asylums' were under-resourced, and conditions were crammed and spartan.
With the advent of psychotropic drug treatment and welfare cost-cutting, most large 'asylums' were closed down in the 1980s.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 50 items
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Straitjacket - Mayday Hills Hospital, Cream Canvas, circa 1900
Heavy cream canvas straitjacket worn by some female patients as a restraining device at a mental health hospital - Mayday Hills Hospital, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, circa 1900. Al ...
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 6 -
Petticoat - Webbed, Cream Moleskin, circa 1910
Cream moleskin webbed petticoat used to restrict leg movement of agitated and violent patients at a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1910-1930. Made circa 1900-1930.
Images: 3 -
Dress - Reinforced Cotton, Quilted, Blue, circa 1900
Heavy cotton quilted strong dress worn by agitated or violent female patients in a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900. The reinforced fabric made destruction of t ...
Images: 6 -
Dress - Branch Central Clothing, Child's Corduroy Pinafore, Red, circa 1980
Red corduroy pinafore worn by young female patients at St Nicholas Hospital, a hospital for children with intellectual disabilities, in Carlton, Victoria, Australia, circa 1980. It was ...
From: Bundoora, Australia Images: 2 -
Stencil Plate - Ballarat Lunatic Asylum, Metal, circa 1900
Square metal stencil plate used for labelling objects 'Ballarat Lunatic Asylum', circa 1900. Used at the Ballarat Lunatic Asylum, a mental health hospital in Ballarat, Victoria, Austral ...
From: Ballarat, Australia Images: 2 -
Padlock & Key - Chubb & Sons, 1859
Padlock and key used in a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, 1859. Manufactured by: Chubb & Sons Lock and Safe Co Ltd, 1859.
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 3 -
Observation Hole - Brass, circa 1900
Brass observation hole which would have been installed on a door in order to observe patients at a mental health hospital in Ballarat, Ballarat Mental Hospital, Victoria, Australia, cir ...
From: Ballarat, Australia Images: 2 -
Isolation Cell - Kew Asylum, Wood, circa 1870
Isolation cell (also known as an isolation chamber) circa 1870. This structure was recovered by Dr Charles Brothers from the Blacksmith's Shop at Kew Asylum, Victoria, Australia. The ce ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 8 -
Pill Tray - Mayday Hills Hospital, Wood & Metal, circa 1960
Pill Tray - Mayday Hills Hospital, Wood & Metal, circa 1960. Pill tray used by nurses to distribute medications to patients at a mental health hospital Mayday Hills Hospital, Beechworth ...
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 2 -
Cap - Padded, Cotton & Kapok, circa 1900
Alternative Name(s): Hat, Helmet Cotton cap padded with kapok used in a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900. Padded caps were used by patients to minimise head in ...
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Cap - Mob, White Linen, circa 1900
White linen mob-cap (house-maid's cap) worn by a staff member at a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900.
Images: 1 -
Microscope with Box - Watson Routine, circa 1910
Watson Routine Microscope and custom storage box circa 1910. Mechanical stage and monocular. Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria.
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
Leitz Illuminator - Microscope, pre 1914
E Leitz illuminator for use with microscope. Light is passed through a globular glass flask filled with a coloured solution. This process removes heat from the light beam, and alters th ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Filter Candle - Sintered Glass Pyrex, circa 1950
Sintered glass filter candle - ultrafine porosity. Capable of filtering bacteria from fluids. Coarser grades are available - fine and ultrafine sintered glass could also be coated with ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Filter Candle - Doultan, Porcelain, circa 1900
Porcelain filter candle, c1900, invented by Pasteur's colleague Chamberland. Used for filtering bacteria from fluids. Superseded by membrane filtration. Photos available showing use in ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Filter Candle - Doultan, Porcelain, circa 1900
Porcelain filter candle in metal frame, invented by Pasteur's colleague Chamberland. Used for filtering bacteria from fluids. Superseded by membrane filtration. Used by Commonwealth Ser ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Microscope Slides - Blood Smears, circa 1920
Microscope slides within storage box containing blood smears, owned by LA Maclean. c1920. Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria.
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Vaccine Bottle - Venereal Disease, 1920s
Bottle of Bacillus Bulgaricus used as a vaccine to venereal disease, 1920s. Manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Ltd, Parkville, Victoria.
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Leitz Arc Lamp - Microscope, 1912
Leitz arc lamp for microscope: for use when special coloured filtration was necessary or for photomicography when ordinary illuminators were too weak or unsuitable. Ran off a 6 Volt bat ...
Images: 1 -
Set of Apothecaries Measures - Glass, circa 1900
Glass beakers used to measure apothecary chemicals at CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories), Parkville, circa 1900. Four were handblown at CSL and the other four were manufactured by CC ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Vaccine Vial - Anti-Pneumococcal, 1920s
Antiserum used as a vaccine to pneumonia. Manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, about 1920s
Images: 3 -
Glassware - Soxhlet Extraction Apparatus, Bellco, circa 1920
Glass extractor, made by Bellco. Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria. c.1920. Laboratory glassware used for the preparation of pharmaceuticals. Th ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 2 -
Bottle Rack - Reagent, circa 1920
Wooden rack with set of glass bottles containing various fluids. Racks like this were widely used up until the 1960s for sets of chemical reagents or diagnostic preparations. The covere ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 2 -
Vaccine Bottle - Spanish Influenza, 1919
Landmark CSL product. First vaccine to be manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne for the pandemic of Spanish Influenza in Australia. Vaccine against the Spanish Inf ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 2 -
Keys - Iron, circa 1860
Set out five iron keys used at the mental health hospital Yarra Bend Asylum, possibly between 1848-1925. They were used to unlock the doors of wards and possibly work areas at Yarra Ben ...
From: Fairfield, Australia Images: 1 -
Boots - Dunlop, Canvas, Prior 1950
Pair of cream canvas boots, size 9, with black laces. Worn by a patient before 1950 at Aradale Psychiatric Hospital. Aradale Psychiatric Hospital was built as the Ararat Lunatic Asylum ...
Images: 3 -
Boots - Canvas, Lace-up, Off-white, circa 1940
Cream-coloured canvas shoes lined with blue-striped cream canvas with thick leather soles and low leather heels. Made by staff or residents at Mayday Hills, Beechworth, Victoria. Canvas ...
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 1 -
Soap - Carbolic, Kew Mental Hospital, circa 1880
Bars of carbolic soap made and used at Kew Mental Hospital, a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1880. Four patients at Kew Mental Hospital were employed to make 84,60 ...
From: Kew, Australia Images: 3 -
Apothecary Jars - Glass, circa 1900
One of seven glass medicine jars from the pharmacy of a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia circa 1900. Some jars contain traces of medicine. One jar nearly full of powder. 46 ...
Images: 2 -
Webbed Forks - Metal, circa 1940
Set of three webbed forks used by patients in a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1940. It was believed that webbing reduced the chances of accidental or self-inflict ...
Images: 2 -
Key - Iron, circa 1900
An iron key used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900.
Images: 1 -
Spoon - Dessert, circa 1940
Well-worn and battered dessert spoon standard size with "Vict. Govt." stamped in a scroll on the handle. Collected from a Victorian psychiatric institution during the 1950s. Dates from ...
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Iron - Flat, circa 1900
A cast iron flat iron used in the laundry of a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900.
Images: 1 -
Apothecary Jars - Ceramic, circa 1900
Ceramic apothecary jars used in the pharmacy of a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australi,a circa 1900. They contain the following: 464.1: no label; 464.2 Asafoetida Gum used as a ...
Images: 2 -
Cashbox - Chief Secretary & Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum, circa 1900
Alternative Name(s): Cash Box Chief Secretary and Superintendent's cashbox from an early mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia circa 1900. The box contains two display cards whi ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
Candlestick Holder - Enamel, Floral Pattern, circa 1900
Alternative Name(s): candle holder Candlestick holder used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900
Images: 1 -
Candlestick Holder - Metal, circa 1850
Alternative Name(s): candle holder Candlestick holder used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1850
Images: 1 -
Truncheon - Rubber, Black, circa 1910
Truncheon used for disciplining patients in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1910.
Images: 3 -
Jug - Pottery, Cream, circa 1900
Pottery jug used in the kitchen or dining room of a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900
Images: 1 -
Knife - Dinner, circa 1940
Standard dinner knife with metal handle used in the dining room of a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1940. Roughly scratched on the handle is the number '4', indicati ...
From: Sheffield, United Kingdom Images: 5 -
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Pair of Locked Gloves - Black Leather, circa 1900
Leather locked gloves used in mental health hospitals in Victoria Australia circa 1900. They were used on patients to prevent self harm or masturbation which at one stage was considered ...
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Mortar & Pestle - Wedgwood, circa 1900
Mortar and pestle used in a pharmacy at a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900.
Images: 1 -
Plate - Dinner, Enamel, circa 1900
Dinner plate used for patients in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900. Enamel plates were commonly used instead of china ones, as they did not break if dropped or ...
Images: 1 -
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Apothecary Jars - China, circa 1900
Apothecary jars containing medications from the pharmacy of a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900. Contain resin ointment for ulcers and sores. Zinc Oxide ointment ...
Images: 0 -
Ladle - Soup, Metal, circa 1900
Soup ladle used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900
Images: 1 -
Locked Glove - White Canvas, circa 1910
White canvas locked gloves, circa 1910. Locked gloves were used to prevent patients from harming themselves, but it has been suggested that they were particularly employed to discourage ...
Images: 3 -
China Bowl - Lunatic Asylum Victoria, circa 1900
Bowl used ofr severing up meals in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1900. Since insignia on bowl simply says "Lunatic Asylum, Victoria" this bowl may be from the fir ...
Images: 9 -
Washboard - Metal & Wood, circa 1920
Washboard used for laundry at mental health hospital Mayday Hills, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, circa 1920
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 1 -
Soap Cutter - Metal & Wood, circa 1920
Soap cutter used in the laundry of a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1920. Used to cut long strips of soap into smaller sizes.
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 1 -
Plate - Metal, circa 1900
Mteal plate used by patients for dining in a mental health hospital Mayday Hills Hospital, formerly Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth Victoria Australia circa 1900. Used in ward ( ...
From: Beechworth, Australia Images: 4
