Record series
Alphabetical Lists of Patients in Asylums
VPRS 7446
1849 - 1885
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Superintendent, Port Phillip District ( VA473 ): 1849 - 1851
Colonial Secretary's Office ( VA856 ): 1851 - 1855
Chief Secretary's Department ( VA475 ): 1855 - 1867
Hospitals for the Insane Branch ( VA2863 ): 1867 - 1885
Agencies responsible for this record series: Department of Health III ( VA 4921 ): 2009 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1849 - 1885
Series in custody:
1849 - 1885
Contents in custody:
1849 - 1885
Function / Content
This series consists of 8 volumes entitled "Lists of Patients", each relating to a particular asylum. Each volume records the name of patients admitted to the asylum. The contents of each volume are self-indexing, that is, they are arranged alphabetically by patient name and then chronologically by admission date. Entries record:patient's name,
nationality,
last known address,
relative's address,
discharge details (including death).
Volumes 1-6 consistently provide much of this information. Volumes 7-8 only list from where transferred and discharged details.
This series can be used to access patient information in the Case Books of these asylums if the date of admission of the patient is unknown to the researcher.
How to use the records
This series has been digitised and is available online. Access to the digitised records is available via the physical records details pages.Consult the Consignment Details List and order in the volume covering the asylum or time period of interest. Turn to the alphabetical section covering the surname of the patient and locate the entry for the person of interest.
Recordkeeping system
Each asylum was assigned a separate volume. Entries were alphabetical by patient name.Asylums include Yarra Bend, Collingwood, Ararat, Beechworth, Cremorne, Ballarat, Kew and Sunbury. These volumes may have been maintained separately at each asylum but they have been placed together in one series for ease of reference.
