Swanbourne Abandoned Hospital, 1904. Formerly, Claremont Mental Hospital. Since 1987, abandoned. This is an amazing collection of buildings, another vivid example of Perth's urban decay. Montgomery Hall is the most impressive structure of the group, a classically proportioned space, akin to the internal courtyard at the abandoned Treasury Building on St Georges Terrace. But this abandoned building, is hidden in the burbs. Heavy ceiling detailing is balanced perfectly with high windows on the east and west sides of the hall, natural light bathing the interior. After the Menora based abandoned Jewish Hospital (Oy Vey!) featured here, I was surprised to find Perth had another abandoned hospital. Read on, for a photo-tour of one of Perth's little known heritage gems.
53 comments:
I just stumbled upon this site. Awesome photos. Reminds me of my younger days when I use to update a graff website. Nothing beats that weird nostalgic feeling that a once lived in, abandoned building gives you.
your email reminds me of a blast from the past, that perth hiphop forum "perth style"
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of gear do you lug around these places and do you have friends who work in security. I only ask because some of these places you get into are hard nuts to crack.
Hey - perthstyle.com was my forum... kept the same email address ever since... I used to run the Hyde Park hip hop night... if I had to take a wild guess, did you do the watarush site?? (if so, we have met once or twice)
I just take on DSLR with me, and normally just the one lense... I need to be light on my feet, just in case... you never know what you are going to stumble upon in abandoned places!
No friends in security - some in demolition though... persistence pays off with a lot of these places. I figure if I ever get caught, I'll pay the fine, and life continues. I never take anything or cause any damage.
Nice to hear from someone who finally linked up perthstyle.com and 6000times.com!
Peace,
Nate.
Hey Nate,
Good guess. I do remember meeting you in that alleyway next to the amplifier bar yeaars ago. Can't remember the gig but I remember getting chased out of an abandoned warehouse in subi that same night. Ah the good times...
I think our websites had similar problems. Too many bad seeds spoiling it for the rest. Although I still keep the site up now for the nostalgia.
I've got a 7d recently so I might start taking up photography again. Although my main forte is video (I run a little production company called movingstill). I just need to buy some zooms. My old prime collection is a pain to use but they do give me that old soft vintage look I like.
Keep up the good work. I especially enjoy these abandoned flicks but also the Iwanoff collection you have. I had no idea about this guy and his designs until now.
cheers,
Tao
Sounds like life is good....glad you enjoy the Iwanoff work, he really was a local master. Thanks for the compliments as well, nice to hear from a blast from the past!
Nate.
PS - yeah, our websites did have similar problems for sure, comes with the hip hop / graf turf I reckon!
awwww so sweet to hear the 2 grandpas reminiscing about the good old days.
sanj
We wore onions on our belts back then!
Hey, were abouts it this place wat road is it on would love to look inside
Hey Nate
My mates and I are filming a media project in the style of 'The Blair Witch Project' and have been killing ourselves trying to get into this place. Dont know when you last went but it seems someone has upped the security e.g. boarded and bolted all doors and windows. Any tips would be much appreciated
Cheers mate :)
Nate... do you photograph people too? I would love to have a shoot inside this hospital. I am in love. Contact me if you're interested :)
Hi Shirley... yes, I photograph people... I agree, its an amazing location for a shoot...I am not in Perth at the moment, I have been overseas for a few months... so no location shoots for me...but I shall return!
We recently shot a short at this location, you should check out the trailer at www.triggershortfilm.com
Any clues on access.... even vague clues... need to get into this place for photoshoot!
Zach, you'd be an idiot not to find the hole in the fence. And the gate is wide open.
However, security patrols regularly. You've got to be a touch nut unless it's 3AM.
go here at night i was there lastnight...if its the one on heritage lane right at the back we herd a weeping noise and scratching comming from inside a room we bolted.... its so fucked at night
i was in last night. take tools with you, theres not much left in there now, we took down a sheet of tin and cut the chains off. ratchet and bolt cutters, dogs at the house next door bark their head off. and and the scratching noise is the pigeons roosting in there.
can someone please post the address
we went there during the day, didnt see any security but we were only there for about 45 minutes, having a scout around you probz could get acces via the roof but depends on how athletic you are, and most of the padlocks are new so, i dont think they like people going in there but o well just makes for more of a challenge doesnt it ;)
people should have respect the old hospital and not draw on it . it looks horrible the way it is
wow, so i visted the mental home last nite, it was intense, the court yard gates were bolted so we were pretty much stuck out looking round the buildng, but we did walk down a few halways that were creepy, the front of the building all the windows were white as we were looking for ages trying to think why it closed down! we look back and one window was black! we swore it wasnt , then we find out from a friend who scaleld the roof to get in, said it was the only UNtouched room with just a chair in the midle, mate also said there was a message carved into the wall "forgive me mummy" so i dont know what happen in this bulding but i would never go back again.
attempted a number of times to get in, so far once (we didn't stay long), then returning we couldn't find a way in. decided to be persistent instead of causing damage. also tracked down the company who owns it and spoke to them about getting access, they've said perhaps early new year. fingers crossed.
These images are so hauntingly amazing. Great work and thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the compliment Amanda!
It is sad to think of what Swanbourne Hospital has been left as. Scary at night? I used to work there so I know about scary at night. The patients were okay but the atmosphere??? So much history and yet so little respect.
I used to belong to a gymnastics club that trained inside of Montgomery Hall, any trace of them there still or have they moved on?
is the first photo of Swanbourne or the Old treasury Building? its just divine...
First photo is @Swanbourne.
i went to JTC(John XXIII College[Catholic]), at the foot of the hill that Montgomery Hall is situated on. Its been cleaned up a lot since, but when we where kids we would break in, this is the early 90's... and explore. At that time the place was FULL of dead animals... cats, birds, rats, pigeons etc... crucified on the walls atop of inverted pentagrams. heeps of satanic symbolism painted around. spooky
i remember reading that this place was going to be knocked down and developed. do you know if it's still standing?
i remember reading that this place was going to be knocked down and developed. do you know if it's still standing?
Hey mate, JaySinn here!
Just wondering man, how the hell do you get into all these places? im keen to check some out, but did you have to go through someone for permission or did you just walk on in? if you could hit me up at jason.allan89@hotmail.com that would be much appriciated :) love your work dude!
Hey JaySinn.... as you could understand, I can't go around telling people how I obtain these photo's. What I can tell you is that in my limited experience, it is EXTREMELY difficult to get permission to visit abandoned places (insurance problems are often mentioned!)... and that often, doors are just left open...and if you choose to enter these doors (or windows), well you would be inside, but you would also be breaking the law...
Let's just say persistence is the key, and after a while, you start to get a sixth sense about how to get into, well, anywhere.
hi folks this site is owned privately now!!
Love the website you've got some pretty amazing stuff in here. I have always been fascinated with old abandoned places.
This particular set is beautiful collection of pictures. Its amazing how something so scary can actually come to life in the frame of a photograph. So many untold stories and so much history floating in the air.
~ Samantha
Thanks Samantha. Yes, I agree with you, it's amazing what's in our own back yards, so to speak! It's a great compliment you give, my hope is that through the photo's people will get some kind of emotional response. N.
I have been here numerous times.
my friends went and told me that all this stuff happened to them while there so, me being me i wanted to find out for myself.
I know alot about the paranormal and how to carry out investigations.
the first night i went we didn't manage to get inside the building but we explored the entire grounds. A few creepy things happened but i wasn't too sure about the sources of which they came from.
We did return another night and entered one part of the building.
the first room we were in was just scattered with old paper work that lead into a large open room with nothing on the floor.
That night we heared someone walking up a set of stairs so we all ran and chased these foot steps that also began to run from us. There were 6 rooms on that level and there was no evidence of anything or anyone that could make these noises.
We also experienced other noises, an entire room that was about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the building, a room that had a chair with restraints on it that made both my and a male friend feel the need to cry and say sorry (for what, we have no idea) and at different times we all witnessed a shadow that seemed to be following us in the building.
There is a very negative energy there and I've never experienced paranormal activity as active as it was in this place :/
Not something I'd reccomend doing alone or without knowlage of the place.
The best time for activity we found was between 12- 3 am.
does anyone have any tips on entry ??? just been there on the outside. Can you get keys to this place ???? any info would help :)
Emily, I used to train at Montgomery Hall too. By chance came across this site and my it has brought back memories (there weren't even working lights in the hall when I first started there - there used to be bulbs that dangled a meter or so from the ceiling that we couldn't turn on)!
It looks like little has changed inside except now you can see the wooden floor instead of gym mats, and there are no posters covering the bare cement on the walls. I'm wondering how much the outside has changed since then.
There was always something so eerie about the place - I'm not usually one for the paranormal but there was definitely a very negative energy around/in the buildings.
Anyone want to come with me soon ?????
Really would like to get in?
Went there the other night, was freaky enough just walking up to the building! There is a hole in the fence you can just walk into the property. It looks like security has really been tightened up all the windows are boarded and the doors are all bolted up. You can scale up a drainpipe and get on to the roof but theres not really much beyond that...though security came pretty quickly and were flashing their lights on us...was great fun though!!
Hello everyone
I go to JTC now (school at the bottom of the hill) and we use the main hall for trampolining. There are two Russian blokes who have massive tramps and mats in there now and they use the stage as an office. Dunno about the rest of the building cause they dont let us in there and it's all locked up. Although there is a massive sign outside of it advertising some development. From what I saw I think they are going to gutt it (think the outside is heritage listed) and sell apartments. Not sure what they are doing with the smaller buildings though.
Anyways mate. Thanks 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh my
I am seething right now yes i know about these buildings.. I know many very responsible artists and performers who would look after these properties while they were waiting for the big investor to come along come on someone- anyone lets request a management group to help free up this situation .. we sit at home and get unhappy when we could be sharing our experience and talent doing community projects and have some small artists studios PLEEEEEZE someone realise this is tight and mean ... even if we were paying a small $ PSM this would be some income for the government ... other countries are far more generous with these spaces and to their artists... I am getting sick from sitting and waiting to find a studio and an outlet for my art works ...
I went there last night, nothing scary about it at all. Fences were ripped down so I guess somebody was there before me. Pretty awesome building though! Got some amazing shots of it.
My paternal Granddmother was a patient at Swanbourne Mental Hospital. Information a little sketchy, I believe she would have been aged 30. She was never released from SMH and passed away there approx. 1965. She was admitted suffering from a breakdown over death of baby (3rd child)....how very sad she endured all those years locked away. Thank dear God times have changed and such illnesses are now treatable.
I've tried to get in there before. In the actual buildings, I mean. My friend and I searched for hours, and only found a window about 30 x 30 cm open. We couldn't get through. It was very frustrating.
well holly cow i have been sittin here readin everyones comments n i love this site.... for years i have been so interested in this stuff. i would love to go look at this buildin is anyone able to let me know the addy??? thanks :)
wow guys i seriously cant get enuff of this website me n my cuz gonna go n have a look at a few soon n i can hardly wait.... i now know that u all rather not mention the adresses of these buildins but how is another way i can find out where to go, any help would be much appricated..
This is a newspaper report from 1918.
"MENTAL ASYLUM TRAGEDY PERTH, May 10,-The inquest on the body of Mrs. Annie Babrer, an inmate of the Claremont Lunatic Asylum, was concluded today. The evidence showed that the deceased was attacked with a broom handle by another patient, named Minnie Kerr, and received injuries to the head which caused death. Dr. Moxon de- posed that he had questioned Kerr about the assault, but she did not comprehend and her replies were unintelligble. There had not been indications that she suffered from homicidal mania. The jury returnedFix this text a verdict according to the medical testi mony. The Coroner said it would be necessary to commit Kerr for trial on a charge of wilful murder."
Minnie Kerr is my Great Grandmother, I had always heard she had a very tragic life and went to a mental hospital but only just found out she was accused of murder.
Does anyone know how we can find records from the Claremont Mental Hospital? My family and I would like to know more about what happened to her and why.
Thanks in advance.
Ref: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/60363239
@Minnie's granddaughter - I found this site because I only discovered today that one of my ancestors died in the Claremont Mental Hospital too, in 1952.
It seems the State Library has some records! There's a 100 year rule too, though (booo) so some records aren't publicly accessible yet, although maybe the rules are different for family history...? I'm finding their online search facilities a bit confusing so you might have more luck actually going into the State Library.
This page tells you what the library has: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/dead_reckoning/government_archival_records/k-o/mental_health_patients
:)
I'm glad I found this site. I was incarcerated there as a young teenager. There are many stories that could be told. I would love for it to be turned into a museum. It is a significant part of Australia's history.
does anyone know good places to explore abandoned buildings around perth?
I went threes the other night, there is access through a hole in the gate wich leads you strait to the court yard..a lot of spooky thing happend in the far building, on the top level there was an old hospitle bed that seemed to move every time we went into a room, we also found a 'secret' room with you climb a chair then through a hole in the wall to a small room with shackles and chains bolted to a wall with 'demons in the floors, demons in the walls, demons in my mind, demons you will find carved into the wall, also other thing through out the corridors such as decapitated pigeons, whispers and also most door handle abnormally hot
We went in a group
Absolutely brilliant. I love this site. I've always had a fascination for abandoned buildings and the like. I wasn't aware there were so many in Perth! I actually worked on the old Swanbourne Mental Hospital back in 1993. We started to restore the old store room (building on the right in the pic with the covered driveway) I was called away to another project and never got back there. I always wondered if the work went any further. Thanks for a great site. Very interesting. Cheers :-)
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