Parkside Lunatic Asylum

December 28, 2016

Urban Exploring: The Elms Glenside Psychiatric Hospital

Back in May 2016, the people of Adelaide were invited to see The Elms for the last time as part of a guided walking tour of the heritage buildings at the former Glenside Psychiatric Hospital. It was the last chance for any of us to see inside The Elms.

The Elms — Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, Metro Adelaide. — The Elms at the Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, Adelaide c2016. (Photo by WildStar)

The tours were booked solid! The guide on the day was deeply saddened that I may have missed the last opportunity. Fearing we’d missed out, we did some quick talking and thankfully managed to get an invitation to a uniquely special private tour. It enabled us to get some pretty unique pictures for you all.

The Elms housed mentally ill and poverty-stricken female patients. It was originally known as the “Additional Female Ward”. It later changed to “Women’s E, F and G Wards” and in 1982, to “The Elms”.

The Elms c1920 — Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, Adelaide. — 1920 The Elms and main building at Glenside. (Image from ‘Centenary of Glenside Hospital’ by The Griffin Press)

It was built in 1880 of hard Glen Osmond stone. A red-bricked Dining Room was added to the eastern end in 1954. An ablutions block for bathing and showering (cladded with shiny metallic sheeting) was added to the side of The Elms in 1959.

In its latter years, The Elms was used as a Domestic Training Unit and for Music Therapy. Recently the State Government changed the land’s zoning in order for it to be used for commercial and residential use. The Elms is expected to retain its heritage status and be retained. It’s to be adapted for use as a recreation facility.

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September 16, 2016

Urban Exploring: Erindale Ward Glenside Hospital

Amidst Adelaide’s high-rise apartment block developments, there are areas of Adelaide that remain neglected and forgotten.

Erindale formed part of the Parkside Lunatic Asylum which opened in 1870. The Asylum was renamed in 1913 to the Parkside Mental Hospital, and again in 1967 to Glenside Hospital. It long held the nickname The Bin; a home for the discarded — the dumping point for people that didn’t fit into society.

Erindale Disturbed Mens Ward, Glenside Hospital c2016.

Erindale housed the more mentally disturbed male patients. In 1941 Electro-convulsive shock treatment (ECT) began here as a treatment for those with mental disorders. This was the first place to introduce shock therapy to Australia. Patients were also put under the knife, with the first psychosurgery procedure performed at Glenside in 1945.

Male patient recieving Electro-convulsive shock therapy. — Male patient receiving Electro-Convulsive Shock Therapy. (Photo courtesy http://guardianlv.com/)

Is Erindale haunted? Even though approximately one-third of the souls admitted to Glenside would die here, we experienced no paranormal events. Could it be a perfect spot for an Allen Tiller investigation or a Haunted Horizons Ghost Tour?

By the mid-1970s, breakthroughs in modern drug treatments and falling patient numbers led to the site’s closure, and for the past ~40 years Erindale has sat empty and disused. Probably one the most neglected buildings of Glenside Hospital, there are currently no plans to re-use the building. It sits there decaying.