Records of Northfield Mental Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital, State Records of South Australia

These records were created by the Northcote Mental Hospital, later known as the Hillcrest Hospital. They contain information about patients, staff, and administrative matters at the Hospitals. The collection is held by State Records of South Australia. The records contain personal details of people admitted to the Hospitals, including children and young people. Records about patients include admission and discharge registers, medical exam notes and case files, records about medications, property owned by patients, visitors, and patient deaths. The collection also includes administrative records from the hospital, such as annual statistics, general information pamphlets about the hospital and what patients could expect, and a newsletter written by patients and staff.

Access Conditions

Access to many of these records is restricted for up to 100 years in order to protect personal privacy. People mentioned in these records have a right to access information about themselves. To request access to restricted records please contact the Records Manager at Glenside Health Services. Some records have open access and may be viewed by any member of the public. To arrange access to open records please contact State Records of South Australia.

Records

The following records in this collection contain information about patients, including children and young people, who were patients at Northfield and Hillcrest Hospitals, or contain contextual information about the Hospitals that may be of interest to former residents and their families. Some records also contain information about patients at Enfield Hospital, which merged with Hillcrest Hospital in 1979. More information about these records has been published on the State Records of South Australia catalogue, and can be accessed via the links below. Records from the Hospitals that relate only to staff members, or contain more general administrative or financial information, have not been included in this list, but are listed on the State Records of South Australia catalogue.

Patient Admission, Discharge, and Movement Records

Selective index to admissions – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1942 (GRS/14334). Restricted access.

Index to admissions – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1964 (GRS/17191). Restricted access.

Record of discharges – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1964 (GRS/16058). Restricted access.

Admission papers, annual single number series – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1960-1980 (GRS/17120). Restricted access.

Record of patients admitted – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1962-1987 (GRS/12215). Restricted access.

Admission register – Northfield Mental Hospital School, later Hillcrest Hospital School, 1963-1970 (GRS/13925).

The latest volume in this series (dating from 1970) also contains information about children admitted to the Strathmont Special School, which operated out of the Strathmont Centre.

Statistical register of admissions – Hillcrest Hospital, 1965-1980 (GRS/16005). Restricted access.

Register of patients – Receiving Wards, Hillcrest Hospital, 1969-1972 (GRS/14234). Restricted access.

Record of patients admitted – Receiving Wards, Hillcrest Hospital, 1969-1974 (GRS/14332). Restricted access.

Statistical register of admissions – Receiving Wards, Hillcrest Hospital, 1972-1975 (GRS/14333). Restricted access.

Statistical register of discharges – Hillcrest Hospital, 1972-1980 (GRS/16006). Restricted access.

Statistical register of admissions – Hillcrest Hospital and Enfield Hospital, 1979-1980 (GRS/16021). Restricted access.

Rough register of patients – Enfield Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital, 1979-1980 (GRS/16004). Restricted access.

Patient Medical Records

Examination of patient registers – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1940 (GRS/13983). Restricted access.

Prescription books – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1929-1979 (GRS/17131). Restricted access.

Record of deaths – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1930-1964 (GRS/15234). Restricted access

Medical journals – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1935-1980 (GRS/14223). Restricted access.

“Dangerous Drug” record books – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1949-1963 (GRS/17133). Restricted access.

Notice of death forms – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1952-1971 (GRS/16022). Restricted access.

Death certificate books – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1956-1967 (GRS/16001). Restricted access.

Patient files, artificial alphabetical series – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1960-1994 (GRS/12609). Restricted access.

Certificate books in respect of tranquillising drugs and/or anti-depressant drugs – Parkside Mental Hospital, Northfield Mental Hospital, Enfield Hospital, 1962-1971 (GRS/17136). Restricted access.

Case book – Receiving Ward, Hillcrest Hospital, 1970-1975 (GRS/16116). Restricted access.

Duty doctor’s book – Hillcrest Hospital, 1974 (GRS/17295). Restricted access.

Other Patient Records

Record of notices forwarded to the Inspector-General of Hospitals for sanction – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1944 (GRS/15235). Restricted access.

Daily journal of changes – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1929-1964 (GRS/14373). Restricted access.

Patients’ property book – Northfield Mental Hospital, later Hillcrest Hospital, 1929-1992 (GRS/15503). Restricted access.

School journals – Northfield Mental Hospital School, later Hillcrest Hospital School, 1963-1970 (GRS/14033). Restricted access.

Administrative and Contextual Records

Annual statistical reports – Northfield Mental Hospital, 1938-1947 (GRS/8312). Restricted access.

Visitors’ book – Northfield Security Hospital, 1973-1976 (GRS/15203). Restricted access.

‘Revelation’ – Hillcrest Hospital [Hillcrest patient’s magazine], 1977-1979 (GRS/18525). Restricted access.

Information booklets – Hillcrest Hospital, No date (GRS/18509). Open access.