Sharp-Healy Family
The Story of the first two Generations
Seacliff
Seacliff Lunatic Asylum was the home to four members of the Healy family for many years, and one in particular (Patrick) for 50 years.
The Seacliff Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1884. It was situated 28 kilometres up the coast from Dunedin and provided housing for 500 patients and 50 staff. At the time, it was the largest public building in New Zealand.
Four members of the Healy family - Patrick, Catherine, Susan and Francis - were all committed to Seacliff on 14 August 1914. They were to remain there for the rest of their natural lives. You can read why the four brothers and sisters were committed, and what happened to them in their personal stories.
Seacliff was more than just a hospital - it was a community and suitable patients were expected to help with the chores. Some female patients worked in the hospital's flower gardens while the male patients went out in gangs - nine or 10 patients with a male nurse supervising them. They worked in the gardens. There was a piggery and a slaughterhouse and hens to produce eggs.
1942 Fire
There was a fire in Ward 5 at Seacliff on 8 December 1942. Sadly 37 of the 39 patients in Ward 5 died in the fire. There were no automatic fire alarms, and the patients had been locked in for the night. Luckily none of the Healy family were affected, as they were located in other wards at the time.
You can read the full story of the Seacliff Fire on the Christchurch City Library - NZ Disasters, and the Te Ara websites.