Photos

Larundel Hospital was conceived in 1938 but due to WWII, which saw it being used for the RAAF and emergency accomodation, it was not until 1953 that it was officially opened as a mental hospital. It had 387 patients, a quarter of which were women. Two years later eight additional wards opened, allowing for another 360 patients (270 of which were female).

By the early 1970s Larundel had a number of wards operating dealing with a wide variety of psychological illnesses. These included acute psychiatrics, chronic schizophrenics, chronic psychotics and geriatric patients. A clinical laboratory had also been added.
During the late 1990s there was a strong move away from institutional care of psychiatric patients and towards community based care. As a result of this a number of Victoria’s mental hospitals were closed, including Kew and Larundel. Due to inadequate support for community based care, many end up homeless or in the criminal justice system.

Darebin Council has recently approved plans for the development of 550 new homes on the site. The buildings are currently derelict and show signs of vandalism and fire - you can say that again.

Taken in the company of Santo (skippy007)