Porirua Hospital Museum - Initial online research
History
Visiting Times
https://publicaddress.net/access/cool-asylum-porirua-hospital-museum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porirua_Lunatic_Asylum
https://natlib.govt.nz/items?text=HISTORY+OF+PORIRUA+HOSPITAL
http://www.newswire.co.nz/2013/03/forgotten-hospital-abused-petition-for-apology/
https://poriruafire.nz/about-the-city/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/70912254/null
http://www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz/museums-directory/22874/details
https://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/collections/3175/porirua-hospital-museum
https://www.ccdhb.org.nz/our-services/kenepuru-community-hospital-porirua/#visiting-hours-and-visitors
https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/kenepuru-community-hospital-te-hohipera-o/
Porirua Lunatic Asylum (alternates: Porirua Asylum, Porirua Hospital, Porirua Psychiatric Hospital; currently: Porirua Hospital Museum) was a psychiatric hospital located in Porirua. Established in 1887, it was at one time the largest hospital in New Zealand. The patients ranged from those with psychotic illnesses, to the senile, or alcoholics.
Land was acquired in 1884 for a hospital farm that would offer 'work therapy' to relieve overcrowding at Wellington's Mount View Lunatic Asylum. Porirua Lunatic Asylum, as it was originally named, was opened in 1887 with Dr. Thomas Radford King as its medical superintendent, though in less than a year, he was replaced by Dr. Gray Hassell.
By 1905, Porirua Hospital had 700 beds. In the early 1900s, the facility had 2000 staff and patients, affording a major effect on the Wellington Region's development. By 1928, nurses moved into their own two-store, 100 room building. The resident population was 1,500 in the 1940s.
After the 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes, 800 patients had to be moved to other hospitals. Subsequently, the main building was demolished and eleven new villas were constructed.
Most patients were released into community-based care in the 1970s, and the last ward, F Ward was closed in 1977, considered unfit and uneconomical. In 1980, the Puketiro Centre operated as a regional base for children with developmental problems. In 1987, the hospital celebrated its 100-year anniversary, opening the Porirua Hospital Museum in F Ward.
Now
Kenepuru Community Hospital provides secondary services catering to the communities north of Wellington, including Porirua and Kapiti. The hospital provides medical, surgical, maternity and child health services, plus services for the elderly, a specialist inpatient assessment, treatment and rehabilitation service, and outpatient clinics. The site includes an adult psychiatric day hospital and the 13-bed inpatient unit for young people, the Rangatahi (Adolescent) Mental Health Service. Multidisciplinary services for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioural, or developmental concerns are provided at the Puketiro Centre adjacent to the hospital. The Centre also provides audiology services for people of all ages in the Porirua area. The museum is located in the last remaining part of the original asylum in Porirua. The main hall was a dormitory and an original restraint room is part of the building. In the grounds is a sun shelter built to keep patients out of direct sunshine as it damaged their skin if they were on particular medication. A memorial for Dr Skay, first inspector of asylums in New Zealand, is next to the hospital.
Kenepuru Community Hospital provides secondary services catering to the communities north of Wellington, including Porirua and Kapiti. The hospital provides medical, surgical, maternity and child health services, plus services for the elderly, a specialist inpatient assessment, treatment and rehabilitation service, and outpatient clinics. The site includes an adult psychiatric day hospital and the 13-bed inpatient unit for young people, the Rangatahi (Adolescent) Mental Health Service. Multidisciplinary services for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioural, or developmental concerns are provided at the Puketiro Centre adjacent to the hospital. The Centre also provides audiology services for people of all ages in the Porirua area. The museum is located in the last remaining part of the original asylum in Porirua. The main hall was a dormitory and an original restraint room is part of the building. In the grounds is a sun shelter built to keep patients out of direct sunshine as it damaged their skin if they were on particular medication. A memorial for Dr Skay, first inspector of asylums in New Zealand, is next to the hospital.
Visiting Times
Kenepuru Community Hospital - Adult wards: Visiting hours are between 10am and 1pm and between 3pm and 8pm (1pm to 3pm is a rest period).
Porirua Hospital Museum - Open Tuesday 1pm - 4pm. Other times by arrangement. 64-4-385 5999 ext 7541 OR 04 239 9499
https://publicaddress.net/access/cool-asylum-porirua-hospital-museum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porirua_Lunatic_Asylum
https://natlib.govt.nz/items?text=HISTORY+OF+PORIRUA+HOSPITAL
http://www.newswire.co.nz/2013/03/forgotten-hospital-abused-petition-for-apology/
https://poriruafire.nz/about-the-city/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/70912254/null
http://www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz/museums-directory/22874/details
https://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/collections/3175/porirua-hospital-museum
https://www.ccdhb.org.nz/our-services/kenepuru-community-hospital-porirua/#visiting-hours-and-visitors
https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/kenepuru-community-hospital-te-hohipera-o/