The Seaview Asylum, also known as Seaview Hospital, was a psychiatric facility of great historical significance. Situated to the north of Hokitika in the West Coast Region of the South Island, it occupied a Government reserve of approximately 150 acres. The asylum was positioned on terraced land north of the borough of Hokitika, known to locals as Misery Hill because it had the hospital, jail, asylum, and cemetery back in the day.
In the 1860s, the mentally unwell were taken to the gaol in the rapidly growing town of Hokitika. However, the gaol quickly outgrew its buildings, leading to the construction of a new complex north of the town at Seaview Terrace. The first hospital in Hokitika, later known as Westland Hospital, was built to the south of the town at South Spit in 1865. Initially, it could accommodate a few psychiatric patients, but after 1867, the majority of them were sent to Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch. Seaview trained psychiatric nurses and was once the town’s biggest employer.
During their tenure at Seaview from 1872 to 1904, Hugh and Winifred Gribben, serving as the superintendent and matron, respectively, implemented pioneering and progressive methods that have had a lasting impact on mental healthcare practices. They actively engaged patients in domestic and outdoor tasks, allowing them to participate in various trades while refraining from using restraints in patient care. In 1879, Hugh Gribben spearheaded the construction of the Cottage, which served as a groundbreaking model for the villa system and served as an inspiration for numerous other mental hospitals.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the patient population at Seaview primarily comprised individuals transferred from mental hospitals across the country, prompting the construction of additional villas to accommodate the growing number of patients. However, in the aftermath of the war, staffing shortages emerged as a significant challenge, requiring patients to take on various responsibilities to maintain the hospital’s functionality. Unfortunately, due to staff shortages, activities such as occupational therapy for patients and building renovations had to be curtailed, underscoring the difficulties faced by the hospital.
By 1946, the hospital housed 526 patients, with 304 engaged in various work activities within the hospital. Notably, patients were not remunerated for their work until the subsequent year. The 1950s marked a transition in patient care at the hospital, witnessing the introduction of convulsive and drug therapies. However, the complete implementation of these novel procedures encountered hurdles such as staff shortages and financial constraints. Despite these challenges, the modernisation of the wards continued, and patients resided in open wards. During the 1950s and 1960s, the hospital’s farm and gardens ceased operations for economic reasons, while part of the hospital land was taken over for the airport in 1947.
The Nurses’ Home was built in 1939–1940 to assist in the recruitment and retention of staff. Previously, nurses resided in the wards or other buildings.
In 1955, Seaview Hospital reached its peak patient count, with 549 individuals. Over the years, this number gradually decreased to 100 by 1996, and upon the hospital’s closure in 2009, it had just 22 patients remaining. Throughout its operation, the hospital offered specialised care for individuals with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric and psychogeriatric conditions, and elderly individuals who required specific attention due to frailty.
In 2002, the hospital board decided to sell the asylum to a property developer while retaining leasing rights to some of the buildings. The facility has since been closed, and the New Zealand Defence Force has utilised the space for various purposes, including urban warfare simulations, search and rescue training, and exercises to handle public disorder situations. Additionally, some buildings have been repurposed to serve as hostels that accommodate long-term tenants and backpackers.
The old asylum has been shrouded in many misconceptions and urban legends. It has a mysterious and spooky history, possibly fuelled by misinformation and misguided rumours. It’s been said that the place is filled with old tunnels that were once used to move patients around.
This could hold some truth, as many psychiatric hospitals, both locally and internationally, had underground tunnels constructed to transport patients between different wards.
There is also the story from back when it was used as a prison, where a man was hanged for murdering a child. The child’s grave is supposedly marked in the nearby cemetery. Even more curious is the rumour that the old gallows are now buried under what was under the old tennis courts.
“As has been mentioned, special efforts are constantly being made by the Superintendent and his staff to cater for the amusement and entertainment of the patients, and once a fortnight, on Wednesday evenings, a dance is held in the Concert Hall, the music being supplied by the attendants. The staff is strong in musical talent, and the Asylum orchestra consists of a violin, cornet, clarinet, euphonium, bass, and piano. The patients greatly look forward to those dances and are much appreciated by them. Besides the home amusements, however, the convalescent patients get a variety of scenes by being taken to races, cricket or football matches, or other functions of the kind in the town”.
This was taken from a new article in the West Coast Times, Issue 13490, 6 April 1905.
I found this interesting to read, as during my exploration of the hospital buildings and the ground back in April 2021, I stopped abruptly to the sound of what I thought were musical instruments being played.
Just briefly, the sound was carried along in the breeze, but it was music. Whether it was actual instruments being played or someone playing music outside on a stereo somewhere, I’ll never know. To my ears, it sounded like old Jazz or an upbeat Ragtime tune—trumpets and double bass and maybe a banjo playing in unison. I’m likely overthinking it all, but I liked reading the possible connection in the article. The paranormal claims from Seaview are quite intriguing and cover a broad spectrum. From objects being thrown at people exploring the wards and voices being heard from “feral” screaming and whispering to a woman heard singing. Doors are slammed without any logical reason, and a buzzing, electric, or tingling sensation is often felt in certain buildings. Then there’s the apparitions. They are the most commonly experienced at Seaview. From dark, faceless shadow figures to “clear as day people” that just “disappear”.
The Doctors House, now burned to the ground and removed, saw numerous apparitions. They were seen as both adults and children. One night, a tall, thin man was observed walking past the lounge door. A child sleeping there a couple of decades ago reported an old nurse bending over him in the middle of the night. A little blonde girl, possibly five or six, has also been seen there.
A young man who was boarding at the house was found one morning in a terrible state of panic and fear. He claimed a young Māori girl had woken him up, and, knowing it was a ghost, he was terrified and even tried karate-kicking her out of his bedroom. He quickly moved out soon after.
Demolition of the asylum is underway. As of 2024, numerous buildings have been removed or levelled.
