Plenty Mental/Psychiatric Hospital history in brief
In March 1963, Plenty Mental Hospital opened. At the end of 1964, Plenty Mental Hospital had 533 patients on the books, increasing to 553 by the end of 1965.
Plenty was one of three psychiatric institutions (Plenty, Larundel and Mont Park) on a large campus at Bundoora. At the time, this was still Melbourne’s north east fringe. Like Larundel and Mont Park, Plenty had a mix of acute and extended-care wards, with the latter having a number of long-term patients.
In September 1971, buildings known as Wards C and R were separately proclaimed the Plenty Psychiatric Hospital. In 1980, Ward D and Ward M (rooms 1 and 4) were also removed from the Mental Hospital and added to the Plenty Psychiatric Hospital.
Plenty was one of several hospitals that were gradually split off from the Mont Park administration to form separate entities. They were the Macleod Repatriation Hospital (1915), the Bundoora Repatriation Hospital (1920), the Gresswell Sanatorium (1933), Larundel Mental Hospital (1938 opened 1951), the Plenty Mental Hospital (1963) and the Kingsbury Training Centre (1974).
By 1985, Bundoora had been overtaken by suburban sprawl.
In 1991, Plenty amalgamated with Mont Park and Larundel Hospitals to become the North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Services (NEMPS).
Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience. Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
- Department of Health and Human Services Records Management Unit agency history files
- NEAMI’s First 25 Years: A Remarkable Journey [North East Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 2012]
- Mental Health Authority Report to Parliament 1964-1965.
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s, and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
PLEASE NOTE: Patients could be admitted to a Receiving House for short-term treatment and care, but were not permitted to remain longer than two months.
Patients still needing treatment after two months could be sent to a Psychiatric Hospital, in the same institution/complex or another. Hence, there could be more than one set of records for any one person. Please check each location for former patient records.
Admission and Discharge
Plenty Mental Hospital - Admission and Discharge Registers (1963-80)
Register; Unappraised
Content: Details include: patient name, admission number, date of admission, sex, age, marital status, occupation, previous place of abode, signature on medical certificate, form of mental disorder, date of discharge and religion.
From at least 1845 and An Act for the Regulation of the Care and Treatment of Lunatics, public asylums and licensed houses were required to maintain a Register of Patients. The register has commonly been known as an Admissions Register or as an Admission and Discharge Register, and these terms were sometimes stamped on the volumes. Immediately upon the admission of a person to an asylum, the clerk of the asylum was required to make an entry in the Register of Patients. Further details were entered in the register on the death, transfer or discharge of a patient. Following the proclamation of the Mental Health Act 1959 in 1962, information about the types of admission was included.
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Admission and Discharge Registers (1971–87)
Register; Unappraised
Content: The patient details’ recorded include, patients name, admission number, date of admission, sex, age, marital status, occupation, previous place of abode, signature on medical certificate, form of mental disorder, date of discharge and religion.
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Deceased Patients Register (1969–92)
Register; Unappraised
Content: These were kept by the Nursing Administration for reference. Contents include: patients’ name, details of next of kin, date admitted, whether a voluntary or recommended patient, leave taken, date of readmission, date and time of death, the names of those in whose presence the person’s died, date of inquest if any, and patient’s religion. The entries are in chronological order.
Plenty Mental Hospital Patient Admission and Discharge Cards (1953–92 and 1963–93)
Card; Permanent VPRS Number 17909/P0001
Content: The cards record the patient’s admission to Plenty Hospital, their discharge, transfer or death. Details include the patient’s name, address, next of kin, marital status, employment, education, summary of psychiatrist’s examination, and previous admission history, The cards are arranged in alphabetical order by family name.
There are two sequences of cards. The collection held at Public Record Office Victoria appears to be all female patients and was described on the original transfer documentation from Plenty Hospital as a “culled group.” The sequence of cards still held by the Department comprises both male and female patients. This collection was transferred four years later by the North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Services, the health service Plenty Hospital later became part of in 1991.
Warrants
Plenty Mental Hospital Female Patient Admission Warrants (1963–84)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to the hospital. Contents include: medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
A warrant is the legal document pertaining to the lawful admission of a person to a mental hospital or a psychiatric hospital. Warrants contain personal details including medical certificates, previous admissions, Trust Office correspondence, certificates of death or discharge, and whether voluntary or involuntary patients. The warrant includes an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
These records are arranged according to year of admission together with a warrant number. The warrant number is identified by determining the admission number from the appropriate admission register for the institution. A significant change in the format of Warrants was introduced with the Mental Health Statistical system in 1962. This system was based on the already existing individual in-patient card index.
One of the five main forms used for the collection of statistics for this system was the 'Statement of Personal Details of Patient' (MH2), which was completed on admission of the patient and attached to the warrant. The major difference with this form as opposed to previous forms is that it is coded for computer input.
Plenty Mental Hospital Male Patient Warrants (1963–84)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to the hospital. Contents include: medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
See above for more information on warrants
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Female Patient Admission Warrants (1972–85)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to the hospital. Contents include; medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the psychiatrist.
See above for more information on warrants
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital - Male Patient Admission Warrants (1971–85)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to the hospital. Contents include; medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
See above for more information on warrants
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital - Patient Admission Warrants (1985-88)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to the hospital. Contents include; medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
See above for more information on warrants
Plenty Hospital Mixed Admission Warrants (1985–93)
File; Unappraised
Content: These warrants state that a patient has been legally admitted to these hospitals. Contents include; medical certificates, details of the patient’s condition, patient’s personal details and an order signed by the Chief Psychiatrist.
See above for more information on warrants.
Patient Assessments
Mont Park Unit F3 Ward Records - Plenty Patient Assessment Files (1990–92)
File; Unappraised
Content: Includes financial transaction records. The patient assessments are in alphabetical order by family name.
Plenty Hospital - Patient Assessments Admissions and Phone Call Log Books (1985–94)
Register, Temporary
Content: These records document assessments of patients presenting for admission, and phone calls received by the admission office regarding patients referred to admission. The persons were not admitted. The patient assessments are in alphabetical order by family name.
Property
Plenty Hospital Property Statement Books (1988–93)
Register; Temporary
Content: These records document the property brought into the hospital by patients on admission.These records were destroyed in 2003.
Patient Case Management
Plenty Hospital -P Ward Records and Client Files (1990–94)
File; Unappraised
The records include report books, financial accounting records. The patient files are in alphabetical order in two sequences.
Plenty Mental Hospital Patient Case Histories (1979–91)
File; Unappraised
Content; Case histories of patients admitted to Plenty Hospital. These records give details of their treatment and progress. They are arranged in alphabetical order by patient surname. The records include: biographical information regarding the patient, referring doctors’ letters, diagnosis, medical and psychiatric history, results of examinations and pathology tests, medication prescribed, nursing notes, treatment and progress, date of discharge or death, The files are arranged in alphabetical order by patient family name within the year of discharge.Larundel and Plenty Mental Hospitals – OPS Patient Treatment Consent Forms (1988–93)
Forms; TemporaryContent: These records document the consent of a patient or their guardian to ECT or non-psychiatric treatment such as dental treatment. Voluntary patients gave their consent. Involuntary patient consent forms were signed by the Chief Psychiatrist. The forms give reasons for the treatment, the type of treatment and details of the treatment. The forms are grouped into category types.
Plenty Mental Hospital/Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Seclusion and Restraint Registers (1964–94)
Register; UnappraisedContent: These registers document the use of restraint and seclusion to settle disturbed patients. The Mental Health Act 1959 required these records to contain medical certificates authorising the action. Details should include the date, length of time of restraint and the reason for restraint. The registers comprise a numerical sequence which is also chronological.
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Seclusion Forms (1990–91)
Form; UnappraisedContent: Details include: the patient’s name, date and time of seclusion, the reason for seclusion and the doctor’s signature.
Mont Park, Plenty and Larundel Hospitals Consent Forms for Non-Psychiatric Treatment (1989–91)
Form; UnappraisedContent: Details include: patient’s name, birth date, nature of treatment, reason for treatment, patient number, medication, psychiatrist’s signature. Arrangement of the forms is alphabetical by family name.
Nursing Administration/Direct Care
Mont Park and Plenty Psychiatric Hospitals Ward Records (1960–92)
Book, Register Unappraised
Content: These records document the daily activities on wards, including: day and night report books which record the condition of the patient, medication, unusual occurrences, visitors, communication books, patient observation registers, requisitions, drug of addiction registers and property books. The records are arranged by ward groups, then by type of record, then chronologically.
Plenty Mental Hospital Nursing Administration Records (1964–92)
Books, Files, Registers, Unappraised
Content: This collection comprises a varied assortment of records from the Plenty Mental Hospital Nursing Administration Office. The records include: night supervisor's report books, accident on duty registers, roster allocation books, correspondence, hospital executive minutes, staff records and nursing records.
Plenty Hospital Day and Night Report Books (1978–82)
Register, Temporary
Content: Records provide summaries of ward activities including: number of patients, new admissions, discharges, vacancies and any deaths. These records were destroyed in 2007.
Patient Leave and Movement Records
Mont Park and Plenty Hospitals Reports On Involuntary and Security Patients Absent Without Leave (1988–90)
File; Temporary
Content: This collection records patient absences without leave. Contents include: hospital name, patient name, date, patient ward, status, date absconded and description of the patient, whether considered dangerous, names and addresses of relatives. The records are arranged in chronological order.
Plenty Mental and Psychiatric Hospitals - Leave Registers (1963–88)
Register; Unappraised
Content: These records document patients leaving the hospital temporarily for the purpose of trial leave or leave of absence. They comprise a collection of large folios documenting leave for the period. Leave included recommended trial leave, voluntary patient leave of absence, treatment leave, and permanent transfer. The registers contain separate information for males and females. They distinguish between patients who were transferred to general surgical units or general hospitals for non-psychiatric treatment.
Register of Patients Absconding from Plenty Hospital (1973–88)
Register; Unappraised
Content: This collection consists of two registers used to document absconding patients from Plenty Mental Hospital and Plenty Psychiatric Hospital. Contents include: patient’s name, sex, date admitted, date absconded, date returned and how returned. The entries are in chronological order.Plenty Hospital Daily Returns and Movement Sheets (1988–92)
Form; TemporaryContent: These document changes in the number of patients on ward on a specific day. Contents include: names of new admissions, names of patients discharged, deceased or absconded and a summary of male and female patients. These records were destroyed in 1999.
Patient Trust Funds
Plenty Hospital Vouchers and Batches – Trust Comfort Account (1988–91)
Form; Unappraised
Content: These records document financial transactions carried out by the trust office using patients’ funds. These records were destroyed in 1999.Plenty Hospital Trust Office Cash Books (1988–91)
Print out; Temporary
Content: Computer print-outs of cash books relating to the Trust Account at Plenty Hospital. These records were destroyed in 1999.Plenty Hospital Trust Office Files (1987–93)
File; Temporary
Content: These records document the handling of patients’ money and property during their admission to the hospital. These records were destroyed in 2003.Combined Hospitals Ward Cash Books [Mont Park, Larundel, Plenty, NEMPS] (1987–93)
Register; Temporary
Content: These records document transfer of funds by patients in and out of their trust accounts. These records were destroyed in 2004.
Accidents and Incidents
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital - Accident and Incident Reports (1970–87)
Form; Unappraised
Content: These reports document accidents or unusual incidents at Plenty Hospital. They are written reports and pro-forma that contain the names of people involved, time and place of incident, details of the event, any injuries, the names of any witnesses and psychiatrist’s or medical officer’s comments. The records are boxed in chronological order.
Social Worker Contact
Plenty Social Workers Records (1980–92)
Card, File; UnappraisedContent: These records document contact between patients and social workers. The social worker’s responsibility was to help the client to integrate into the general community through counselling, advice and assistance with everyday matters. Contents include personal details, referral cards, correspondence, case notes, etc. The records are arranged within years and then alphabetically by family name.
Miscellaneous
Heidelberg Clinic and Plenty Hospital - medical records, registers and administrative records (1983–96)
Forms, Files, Registers; Unappraised
Content: The records are not arranged in any particular order. They include patient discharge registers, patient registration forms, patient clinical notes, veterans affairs details, annual reports, and medical appointment books.Hospital Administration
Handbooks and Publications
Mont Park and Plenty Hospitals Education Committee Hospital Handbook (1970)
Book; Unappraised
Content: A handbook designed by the Education Committee of Mont Park and Plenty Hospitals to instruct staff in hospital policies and procedures. Subjects covered include record keeping and emergency procedures, It includes information relating to different wards and departments, nursing procedures and staffing arrangements.Mont Park and Larundel and Plenty - Publications (1960–93)
Papers; Unappraised
Content: These records consist of brochures, pamphlets and other material publicising the services provided at the hospitals to both patients and staff.Domestic Services
Plenty Hospital Domestic Services Temporary Records (1986–94)
Form; TemporaryContent: These records document standard administrative procedures pertaining to domestic services at Plenty Hospital. Contents include: personnel management records and stores records. These records were destroyed in 2004.
Plenty Hospital Domestic Services Administrative Records (1986–94)
Register, Form; UnappraisedContent: These records document some administrative functions of Plenty Hospital Domestic Services. Contents include: accident on duty registers, committee meeting minutes and agendas.
Staff Establishment
Employee Position Files Larundel and Mont Park and Plenty Hospitals (1995)
File; TemporaryContent: These records include position files for Plenty Mental Hospital, among others. The files document the creation, variation, abolition, transfer or reclassification of positions and assigned duties.
Personnel
Plenty Mental Hospital Staff Time Sheets (1987–91)
Form; TemporaryContent: Records from various departments showing the times staff were on duty. These records were destroyed in 1999.
Plenty Mental Hospital - Accident Register For Staff On Duty (1963–85)
Register; UnappraisedContent: This is a summary of accidents suffered by staff members while on duty. Contents include: Person’s name, date of accident, injuries, claim number and whether claim accepted. The entries are in chronological order.
Finance
Plenty Mental Hospital Financial Records (1988–91)
Form; TemporaryContent: Various financial records including: paid account batch records, bank tape details, trial balance reports, requisitions and revenue returns. These records were destroyed in 1998–2001.
Plenty Mental Hospital Patient Payment Records Long Term Inpatients (1992–97)
Form; TemporaryContent: This collection consists of payment of fees records for long term inpatients of Plenty Mental Hospital.
Correspondence Systems
Plenty Psychiatric Hospital Director Of Finance and Administrations Correspondence and Policy Filing System (1978–93)
File; UnappraisedContent: The filing system of the Director of Finance and Administration at Plenty Hospital. Plenty Mental Hospital opened in 1963 and amalgamated with Mont Park and Larundel Hospitals in 1991 to become the North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Services (NEMPS).
This filing system was the main administrative filing system used by the Director of Finance and Administration for policy, procedure, administrative correspondence, memos and working papers.The files provide information about a wide range of administrative and policy matters, for example, personnel, patient care, catering budget, capital works and industrial relations. They also contain much information about the 1991 amalgamation of Plenty, Larundel and Mont Park Hospitals.
The files are in three sequences with overlapping date ranges.
Mont Park, Larundel and Plenty Hospitals’ Finance Manager’s Reference Files (1988–93)
File; UnappraisedContent: A collection of reference material, reports and correspondence relating to the financial management of Mont Park, Larundel and Plenty Hospitals and the North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Services (NEMPS). The files and reports cover the period before and after the institutions were amalgamated.
Plenty Hospital Assistant Director of Nursing and Manager, Operational Support, Correspondence Files (1983–90)
File; Unappraised
Content: Files documenting the work of John Turner in both these positions. The records are entirely administrative in nature. Contents relate to: budgets, unions, committees, displan and policy formulation. The records are not arranged in any order.Hospital Plans
Plenty and Mont Park Hospital Plans (1958–88)
Plan; Unappraised
Content: These records are plans of a number of the buildings on the NEMPS site. Types of plan include floor plans, elevation plans, sewerage plans, alarm systems, demolition plans, and block plans.
Various Mental and Psychiatric Hospital Plans
Plan; Unappraised
Content: Includes plans for Plenty Mental Hospital, among other institutions.Mont Park, Larundel and Plenty Hospitals, Maps, Plans and Photographs (1956–93)
Maps, Plans, Photographs; Unappraised
Content: 350 maps, plans and photographs produced to facilitate the redevelopment of Plenty Hospital wards in order to receive patients from Willsmere Hospital, Kew, when it was demolished. The collection includes plans from Larundel, Mont Park, Lakeside Hospital Ballarat, and Henry Barker Nursing Home Macleod. The records are arranged according to subject and each group was assigned a number. Individual items were then given a sequential number.Reviewed 29 August 2016