Please contact Research Enquiries, Tasmanian Archives:
Postal address: 91 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6165 5538 or (03) 6165 5541
Website: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/get-help/help-with-research-and-finding-information/
Quote this number to access your records: Tasmanian Archives Item Number, HSD132/1/1
These records are held by Tasmanian Archives (2011 - current).
The Register of the Admission of ‘Mental Defectives’ lists people living at the New Town Infirmary, and the institutions that superseded it, who were registered as ‘mental defects’ under the Mental Deficiency Act 1920. The age ranges were from 10 to 54.
Open
The Register gives the person’s name, age, date of admission, date of discharge or death, religion, if able to read or write, date of certification under the Mental Deficiency Act, trade or calling, pensions, and the names and addresses of relatives or friends. A column entitled ‘from what district’ often names a former institution, for example HM Gaol, Ashley Home, Lachlan Park Hospital, Clarendon Children’s Home, Northern Tasmanian Home for Boys, Barrington Home for Boys, and Magdalen Home. The Register is organised alphabetically with men on the left hand page and women on the right.