The State Records Office of Western Australia holds a collection of records created by Claremont Mental Hospital. This collection includes record series relating to patients (including admissions, discharges, treatments, and case notes), visitors, staffing, farm management, photographs, and general administration and finances. These records relate to patients admitted to Claremont Mental Hospital, however they also include some records relating to patients admitted to the Fremantle Asylum.
Access
The majority of records in this collection have restricted access for 100 years from their creation in order to protect personal private. However, there are some records with open access, such as those older than 100 years. Please contact the Department of Health Freedom of Information Unit for permission to access restricted records. For access to open records please contact the State Records Office of Western Australia.
Records
The records of Claremont Mental Hostel held by the State Records Office of Western Australia include:
- Attendants Report Books, 1904 – 1968. A series of 121 books, arranged by year, containing daily/nightly observation notes on patients at Claremont, including medical and behavioural concerns, daily tallies of patients, and their occupation whilst at the hospital. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S1771.
- Patient Admission Forms, 1870 – 1944. A series of admission forms for Fremantle Asylum and Claremont Mental Hospital. The forms are titled with patient name and contain patient personal details, reasons for admission, personal property lists, death notices, and other notes. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4397.
- Patient Address Book, 1904 – 1921. Contains patient address, date of admission, and next of kin. These records are open. SROWA reference S4496.
- Case Books – Male Patients, 1903 – 1918. Contain patient personal and medical details and history, including family history of illness, and regular notes on patient condition. These records are open. SROWA reference S4497.
- Case Books – Female Patients, 1908 – 1918. Contain patient personal and medical details and history, including family history of illness, and regular notes on patient condition. These records are open. SROWA reference S4498.
- Medical Journals, 1936 – 1961. Contains weekly summaries of number of patients in hospital, number under restraint, number receiving medical treatments, number of injuries and violent incidents, and general observations. Patient names are identified in summaries. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4499.
- Registers – Patient Admisisons, 1903 – 1966. Contains admissions details for patients admitted to Claremont Hospital, and some information on patients admitted to Fremantle Asylum. Registers include personal details, previous admissions, reason for admission, family history of illness, observations, and discharge details. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4500.
- Registers – Patient Removals, Discharges and Deaths, 1904 – 1969. Contains discharge details for patients, including date of discharge/transfer/death, where transferred to (where applicable), cause of death (where applicable), and observations. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4501.
- Registers – Inebriates, 1905 – 1966. Contains admission details for patients, including admission date, personal details, and discharge date. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4503.
- Visitors Books, 1904 – 1957. Contains details on visitors to Claremont Mental Hospital, including date, name of visitor and patient being visited, relationship, and address of visitor. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4504.
- Indexes – Discharge Registers, 1904 – 1969. Contains indexes of patients listed in the discharge registers (see S4501). These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4506.
- Various Records – Mental Health Hospitals, 1909 – 1955. Contains miscellaneous correspondence and other items from Fremantle Asylum, Claremont Mental Hospital, and Whitby Falls Hospital. The majority of these records mention or relate to individual patients. These records are restricted for 100 years. SROWA reference S4867.
