Stubbs Terrace Hospital - Timeline

1967

September 22 - Mental Health Services expresses interest in acquiring 572 Newcastle Street, Perth for use as a Child Guidance Clinic. The proposal had not previously been pursued because of a lack of funds. A request is made to confirm whether the department remains interested in the property and, if so, to obtain advice on its current valuation and the possibility of negotiating a sale (Letter to the Under Secretary, Chief Secretary’s Office from the Under Secretary for Mental Health Services).

December 15 - Mental Health Services advises the Under Secretary for the Public Works Department that it remains interested in acquiring 572 Newcastle Street, Perth as an alternative to the proposed Collier Pine Plantation site for an in-patient centre. The purchase had not previously been pursued because of a lack of funds, but $30,000 has now been provided through the loan program for the purchase of properties (Letter to the Under Secretary for Public Works Department from the Under Secretary for Mental Health Services).

1968

February 28 - The owners of 572 Newcastle Street, Perth are contacted regarding the possible purchase of the property (Letter to the Under Secretary, Chief Secretary’s Office from the Under Secretary for Public Works Department).

April 22 - Dr Godfrey, Medical Director of Princess Margaret Hospital, discusses Lady Lawley with Dr Robinson. The number of children requiring convalescent care there appears to be declining markedly, raising the possibility that 16 beds could be made available for the proposed unit, although staff would presumably also need to be provided. As a member of the Red Cross committee, Dr Godfrey plans to sound out the views of the other committee members about such a move. If the response is favourable, Dr Robinson intends to submit a detailed proposal to Dr A S Ellis, Director of Mental Health Services (Letter to Dr Ellis, Director for Mental Health Services from Dr Robinson).

May 16 - 572 Newcastle Street, Perth is no longer available for purchase. A development company has purchased the property for $79,000, a price considered far above its value. Another site will therefore have to be found for the proposed in-patient centre for emotionally disturbed children. Dr Robinson, Psychiatrist Superintendent, is advised and will endeavour to locate a suitable alternative (Letter to the Secretary for Public Works from the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health Services).

May 22 - 572 Newcastle Street, Perth has been sold to an investment syndicate for a reported $79,000, with plans to erect a multi-storey block of residential flats. The sale means it is no longer possible to negotiate the purchase of the property for the proposed in-patient centre (Letter to the Under Secretary, Chief Secretary’s Office from the Under Secretary for Public Works Department).

August 2 - The search for a site for the proposed in-patient unit continues. The original Collier Pine Plantation site has been abandoned and 572 Newcastle Street has been sold. Although 6 Kingston Avenue, Perth may be available, the Psychiatrist Superintendent for Child Guidance considers the block too small unless adjoining properties can also be acquired. This would be difficult because land values in the area have been inflated by private development of flats and home units. Dr Robinson now suggests setting aside part of the Lemnos Hospital site for the unit and is reasonably confident it could be established there with little difficulty.

The proposed location is adjacent to the Army Centre (Irwin Training Centre), facing Stubbs Terrace and the railway line. Graylands and Hollywood are considered within reasonable distance for primary and high school students respectively. Catering could also be supplied from Claremont or Lemnos, reducing capital expenditure and the need to employ additional cooks. Use of two to three acres would require the agreement of the Repatriation Department (Letter to the Secretary for Mental Health Services from the Assistant Secretary for Public Works Department).

August 14 - Ministerial approval had previously been given to proceed with planning the in-patient unit at Collier Pine Plantation, but the project was placed in abeyance after that land was reallocated. The Director of Mental Health Services has now approved setting aside part of the Lemnos Hospital site for the project. The proposal is for a 16-bed in-patient unit for socially disturbed children. Recruitment and training of suitable staff are expected to delay the project, with construction not anticipated to begin before January 1970 and remaining subject to available funds. No firm cost has yet been calculated, although expenditure is estimated at about $100,000 (Letter to the Under Secretary for Works from the Secretary for Mental Health Services).

1969

March 10 - Sister Gilbert has been interviewed by Dr Robinson and psychologically tested by Mr Ross Smith. Dr Robinson considers her highly suitable for the proposed children’s in-patient unit. If she completes her training before the unit opens, he recommends that she be seconded in the interim to Princess Margaret Hospital or, preferably, the Lady Lawley cottages. He is particularly impressed that she is prepared to work as second-in-command to a male nurse. Dr Robinson also considers Mr Morgan-Williams suitable for the position of Nurse-in-Charge and hopes he will take up the role when the unit opens. If Mr Morgan-Williams also qualifies before the opening, Dr Robinson recommends that he be seconded for further work with children in the meantime (Letter to Mr Imeson, Nursing Tutor at Claremont Hospital from Dr Robinson).

March 21 - Mr Morgan-Williams is accepted by Charles Gairdner Hospital for general training commencing on July 21, 1969, including 12 weeks at Princess Margaret Hospital (Letter to Dr Ellis, Director for Mental Health Services from Dr Robinson).

November 14 - The proposed in-patient unit was overlooked during recent discussions of the 1970/71 Loan Programme. Given the serious shortage of professional staff, the Director of Mental Health Services is asked whether the project should proceed or be deferred (Letter from the Assistant Secretary of Mental Health Services).

December 5 - Dr Robinson states that children expected to respond to in-patient treatment at Stubbs Terrace Hospital could include those presenting with:

Attempted suicide
Depression
Hypochondriasis
Anxiety states
Phobic states
Obsessive compulsive states
Anorexia
Severe feeding disturbances
Severe disorders of sleep
Enuresis Not more than two of
Encopresis each at any one time
Tics
Hair pulling (often presented as alopecia)
Other chronic tension habits
School refusal (the so-called school phobias)
Psychogenic disorders
Skin
Musculo-skeletal
Respiratory
Gastro-intestinal
Cardio-vascular, e.g. migraine

Dr Robinson adds that children admitted to the unit must have somewhere suitable to go after discharge. The in-patient unit is intended as a short-stay hospital, with admissions of up to three months. Children without adequate homes, and those described as severely anti-social, are considered the responsibility of the Department of Community Welfare (Partial letter written by Dr Robinson).

1972

Concept - The proposed short-stay in-patient unit will provide accommodation for 16 children aged 5 to 14 years who are of relatively normal intelligence. It is to be a single-storey building designed to feel informal rather than institutional and to provide patients and parents with a homely atmosphere. Nursing staff will comprise one Matron, four trained nurses and two Nursing Assistants or Aides, while professional and clinical staff will be allocated from the Child Guidance Clinic as required. All staff will live off site.

Meals will be supplied from Claremont Hospital by electrically heated food trolley, while cut school lunches will be prepared by unit staff. Meals will be served cafeteria-style through a serving hatch to the kitchen, and linen and clothing will be serviced by the Claremont Central Laundry.

Bedrooms and store rooms will have incandescent lighting, with fluorescent lighting elsewhere. Driveway and external security lighting will be provided with internal control switches, and each bed will have a power point for a bed lamp.

Carpet will be used in bedrooms and associated passages, the administration area except the file and records room, the lounge and TV room, quiet rooms and the night nurse area. Vinyl tiles will be used in the dining room, playrooms, laundry and other service areas as required (Letter to the Under Secretary for Works from the Secretary of Mental Health Services).

March 11 - Amendments to the drawings for the in-patient unit include removing the bath from both the female and male bathrooms and replacing each with two showers (Letter to the Under Secretary for Works from the Secretary of Mental Health Services).

March 30 - The 1971/72 Mental Health Loan Estimates allocate $80,000 to the Lemnos Child Guidance Clinic new in-patient unit. A separate cost indication prepared for Mental Health Services totals $221,000 (Letter to the Under Treasurer for Works from the Acting Under Secretary for Works).

July 7 - Construction is expected to commence, with completion scheduled 26 weeks later on January 5, 1973. Mr J Brouwer is named as Project Architect and Mr W Driver as Works Manager (Details of Day Labour Construction Job 56/71/72).

October 26 - Construction of the in-patient unit is being delayed after day labour employees are reallocated to other work. The Commonwealth has approved expenditure under the State Grants (Mental Health Institutions) Act and will contribute one-third of the capital cost, including furniture. The Act expires on June 30, 1973, with no indication that it will be renewed.

If the project is not completed and all accounts paid by mid-June 1973, the State risks losing the Commonwealth contribution applying to any unspent funds (Letter to the Under Secretary for Works from the Director of Administration, Medical & Health Services).

December 4 - The in-patient unit is officially named Stubbs Terrace Hospital, 89 Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park (Letter to the Under Secretary for Works from the Secretary of Mental Health Services).

December 8 - $13,800 is made available for the purchase of furniture, to be supplied through the Furniture Officers’ Bulk Store (Letter to the Secretary of Mental Health Services from the Under Secretary for Works).

1973

January 11 - Completion of the in-patient unit is scheduled for March 31 (Letter to project participants from P A Construction).

April 13 - The in-patient unit is expected to be completed on May 30, with estimated costs of:

Builders work - $106,892
Electrical - $231
Mechanical - $7,232

Reticulation - $10,000 (Cost Planning Officer Estimated Costs).

July 9 - Dr Robinson states that patients admitted to Stubbs Terrace Hospital will be aged 5 to 13 years and selected from children suffering from psychometric and somatopsychic disorders. Admission will be elective rather than for “observation” or “assessment”. Emergency cases are to be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and transferred to Stubbs Terrace only if they are clearly unsuitable for outpatient treatment. Long-term in-patient cases will continue to be treated at Lady Lawley, while “social” problems will continue to be referred to the Department of Community Welfare.

No token economy or “negative enforcement” is to be used and medication will be kept to a minimum. Dr Robinson states that nurses already understand that children learn by example rather than exhortation. Their abilities to play football or chess, read, paint, listen to music or build cubbies are to be encouraged by nurses joining them in those activities, rather than simply directing them and rewarding them afterwards (Letter to the Director of Mental Health Service).

July 13 - A request is made for self-closing, tight-fitting solid-core doors, at least 1 3/8 inches thick, to be fitted to all cleaner, storage and tea-preparation areas (Letter to the Principal Architect, P W D Architectural Division from the Chief Officer, WA Fire Brigades Board).

September 6 - Saw & Edsall Pty Ltd of 9 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth are contracted to prepare plans and specifications at a cost recorded as $527.43B (Invoice 903).

1976

September 27 - Trail bike riders using the bushland behind Stubbs Terrace Hospital are causing concern (Letter to Dr Robinson from the Secretary for Mental Health Services).

November 1 - An on-site inspection is carried out in relation to a proposed fence along Lemnos Street between the Community Development Centre and the Dogs Home, attended by the Secretary of Miscellaneous Units and Mr McCarthy, Senior Engineer. Fencing is proposed to discourage rubbish dumping and possibly prevent trail bike riders from using land adjacent to Stubbs Terrace Hospital.

Although the request originated from Stubbs Terrace Hospital, it is considered that the cost should be shared by the Community Development Centre and Lemnos. The fence is estimated to cost $1,715. In the interim, appropriate No Trespassing signs are requested (Letter to the Secretary for Mental Health Services from the Secretary of Miscellaneous Units).

November 2 - A case conference is held on “over striving” in children, presented by Dr Whitehead, Mr Mellor, Mrs Boddy and nursing staff from Stubbs Terrace Hospital (Letter to the Director for Mental Health Services from Dr Kosky, Psychiatrist).

1977

March 10 - A case conference is held at Stubbs Terrace Hospital to discuss a 10-year-old boy presenting with regressive rocking (Letter to the Deputy Director of Mental Health Services from Dr Robinson).

March 23 - Dr Robinson raises concerns after learning that conversations in his office, even when conducted quietly, can be clearly heard from the corridor through a ventilator. He states that this prevents him from holding confidential conversations with patients, doctors or others and asks for the problem to be rectified (Letter to the Director of Mental Health Services).