ACC()I|IIODATTN(3 THE DBSTITTJTE.

An HlstorlcaL and ArchaeaToglcalConslderation of the Destitute AsyLumof Adela lde.

By

Sugan P lddock B .A tHons )

1 lBepa"rtne*+-ot Archaeology ]' Schoo1 o f Cu l tu ra l S tud ies

Facu l t y o f Educa t i on ,Law and Theology

F l l nde rs Un ive rs i t ySou th Aus t ra l i a .

May 24 th 1 -995

Human i t i es ,

o f

1 t

SUUr{ARY

Th is thes l s i s conce rned w i th the Des t i t u te Asy }um o f

Ade la ide r Bh l ns t i t u t i on es tab l i shed i n 18 {9 to p rov ide

re l i e f f o r t he poo r o f Ade la i de , sou th Aus t ra l i a . The

Dest i tu te Asy lum is v iewed f rom the perspect ive of

h i s to r i ca l a rchaeo logy and the thes i s seeks to e luc ida te

the o r i g ins o f t he Des t i t u te Asy lum, anq to i den t i f ywhe the r i t was based on a pa r t i cu la r mode l , and i f 5o r

wha t were the o r i g ins o f t h i s mode l , wha t be l i e f s and

ideas i n fo rmed i t s c rea t i on and ope ra t i on 'The thes i s seeks to i den t i f y t o wha t ex ten t t he

cs lon i s t o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a bough t w i th them ideas onpoor re l i e f f r om Eng land . Th i s has pa r t i cu la r impor tance

ls Sou th Aus t ra l i a , wh lch was founded in 1835 , was

w i thou t a res iden t conv i c t popu la t i on , and the co lony was

es tab l i shed tno yea rs a f te r t he i n t roduc t i on o f t he New

Poor taw in England whlch saw the widespreadins t i t u t l ona l i i a t l on o f t he poo r i n to workhouses . The

thes i s p rov ides an ove rv iew o f Eng l i sh Poor Law h i s to ry

w i th p " i t i cu la r a t ten t i on be ing focussed on sou rces o f

ln format ion about workhouses, the i r des ign, layout lnds ta ted pu rpose , w i th the i n tended pu rpose o f i den t i f y i ngwhether a ie t o f character is t ics can be developed that

ident i fy the workhouse as a workhouse, and which may be

app l i ed to . .o the r l ns t i t u t i ons be l l eved to be fa r t hepoo r .

Thb thes i s w iL l a rgue tha t wh i l e t he Des t i t u te Board

sought to operate the Dest i tu te Asy lum as a form of

wor fhouse, i t was f rust rated in i ts a t tempts tV lhgna tu re o f t he bu iLd ings g i ven to i t by the coLon ia lGovernment , and by the lack of author i ty the Board -hadove r the use o f i l s own bu i l d ings . Th i s i n t u rn l ed to

the fa i l u re o f a t tempts to es tab l i sh a mora l env i ronmen twhere the i nma tes mrgh t be re fo rmed . By ou t l i n i ng the

hls tory of the bui ld ings and the development of theAsy tum s i t e , t h rough an ana lys i s o f documen ts ,pt r -o tographs and p l ins, th ls theeis wi l l ident i fy factorst f , a t l ed - t o th l s f a l l u re to ach ieve the s ta ted pu rpose o f

the Des t i t u te Board . Pa r t i cu la r a t ten t i on i s f ocussed on

bu i l d ing a s l t e h i s to ry and i den t i f y i ng the way i n wh ich

the Asyium layout developed as prev ious s tudies havefocuses on th ; inmates and the Asylum socia l h is tory tw i th l i t t l e a t ten t l on g i ven to the bu i l d ings themse lvesand the Des t i t u te Board ts use o f t hem.

1 1 1

DTGLARATI()IIS

I ce r t i f y t ha t t h i s t hes i s does no t con ta i nmater ia l which has been accepted for the award ofany other degree or d ip lona; and that to the bestof my knowledge and bel ie f i t does not conta in anymate r la l p rev ious l y pub l l shed o r w r l t t en byanother person except where due reference is madein t he t ex t o f t he t hes i s o r I n t he no tes .

{ , ; } " .

I be l i eve tha t t h i s t hes i s i s p rope r l y p resen ted ,con fo rms t o t he spec i f i ca t l ons o f t hes i sp tesen ta t i on i n t he Un lve rs i t y a4d i s p r ima fac iewor thy o f examlna t l on

Acknowledgements

I wou ld l i ke t o t hank Ms . V . Szeke res ,D i rec to r o f t he M ig ra t i on Museum o f Sou thAus t ra l i a f o r access to the Des t i t u te Asy lumexcava t i on a r t i f ac t s he ld by the Museuml MsE l i zabe th Ho , Ass i s tan t D i rec to r , t i b ra r ySe rv i ces , Mo r t l ock t i b ra r y o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a f o rthe k ind pe rm iss ion to rep roduce pho tog raphs f romthe Mor t l ock L i b ra r y ' s co l l ec t i on ; and R i cha rdCooke o f t he SACON fo r pe rm lsss ion to rep roduceplans held by the Depar tment ;

I wou ld l i ke t o t hank my supe rv i so rs ,Professor Vlncent Megaw and Dr. Susan Lawrence fort he i r suppo r t .

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L I S T ILLUSTRATIOIIS

Flgure

1 .1 The Ly ing - i n Home

1 .2 Rea r o f t he LY ing - i n Home

1 .3 Des t i t u t e AsY lum ChaPe l

1 .4 Des t i t u t e AsY lum S to res

1 .5 S to res , Des t i t u t e AsY lum

1 .5 F ron t o f t he ChaPe l

L .7 S ide v i ew o f t he ChaPe l

1 .8 Ce t l s , Des t i t u t e AsY lum

1.9 Chape l and tY ing - in Home

1 .10 Sou th s i de o f t he ChaPe l

1 .11 Day Nu rse rY

L .L2 Day Nu rse rY w i t h s .AMuseum beh ind .

1 .13 P Ian o f No r th Te r race ,AdeLa ide , show ing t heDes t l t u te Asy1um comPound .

3 .1 S t . James Workhouse , K ing rsLyn , Eng land , c . 1820 .

4 .1 t o 4 .L .7 Workhouse f o r 300Paupers by Samue l KenPtho rne .

4 .2 Je remy Ben thamrs PanoPt i con .

4 .3 S i r F ranc i s Head rs Ru ra lWorkhouse f o r 500 Paupe rs .

1 .1 .1 t o 4 .4 .3 A .W.N . Pug inCon t ras ts 1841

{ .5 .1 t o ,1 .5 .3 Ch r i s t ophe r Ea les'Des ign f o r a Un ion Workhouse r .

{ . 5 Depwade Workhouse , No r fo l k 'Eng Iand .

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{ . 7 G ressenha l l House o fNo r fo l k , Eng land .

{ . 8 W ick lewood House o fNo r fo l k , Eng Iand .

I ndus t r y , L82

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4 .9 Scu l coa tes Un ion Workhouse ,Hu I1 by Samue l Musgrove .

{ . 10 Dock ing Un ion Workhouse ,N o r f o l k , E n g l a n d .

{ . 1 1 H e n s t e a d U n i o nN o r f o 1 k , E n g l a n d .

1 . 1 2 D o w n h a m M a r k e tW o r k h o u s e , N o r f o l k ,P 1 a n .

W o r k h o u s e ,

U n i o nE n g l a n d ,

{ . 13 Downham Marke t Un iongJo rkhouse , No r f o1k , Eng land 'Facade

4 .L4 Top . K ing rs Lyn Un ionWorkhouse . Bo t t om. A l ysham Un iontr lorkhouse . Both Nor f o Ik 'Eng land .

,1 .15 Sma l lbu rgh Un ion Workhouse 'No r fo l k , Eng land , p l ans .

{ .15 Sma l lbu rgh Un ion Workhouse ,No r fo l k , Eng land , p l ans .

4 .L7 Top . Eve rsho l t Workhouse 'Bed fo rdsh i r e . Bo t t om. Fu lham andHammersmi th Un ion Workhouse ,t ondon .

{ .18 Andover Workhouse ,Bed fo rdsh i r e , Eng land .

4 .19 W inson Green Workhouse .

1 .2O 'Poo r t aw Exe rc i se r .

1 .2L 'Poo r Law D i vo rce r .

1 .22 S t James rs Pa r i sh Workhouse .

1 .23 'Men ts Casua l Ward f Wes tLondon Un ion 1857 .

4.24 'Women r s Casual Ward f l . lestLondon Un ion 185? .

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4 .25 Mary lebone l r l o rkhouse , London . 200

1 .26 'Re fuge f o r t he Des t i t u t e r . 201

4 .27 C ros land Moo r Workhouse . 2O2

? ,1 P roposed A rea f o r ' Town 0Es tab l i shmen t | .

7 . 2 B lock p l an o f t he 0Des t i t u te Asy lum

8.1 Mag i l -1 - Orphanage

8 .2 O f f i ces f ac i ng on t o K in to reAvenue .

8 .3 Workshops and tumber room.

8 .4 Wa tds , Quad rang le D .

8 .5 Wards , S tab le , Coa I r oom,Quad rang le D .

8 .5 Workshops and Need le room,Quad rang le D .

8 .7 D in i ng room, ba th house ,boo t s and t a i l o r s wo rkshop ,Quadrang le D .

8 .8 Wards , Quad rang le D .

8 .9 Ba th , Nu rse rs , Co t andNurs i ng Rooms .

8 .10 D i seased P ros t i t u t es Ward ,K i t chen , D ln i ng room,Quadrang le C .

8 .11 D i seased P ros t i t u t es Wardand Wash House , Quadrang le C .

8 .LZ Dry ing and Wash ing rooms ,Quad rang le C .

8 .13 Day Nu rsE ty r Nu rse f s Room,S to res , Quad rang le B .

8 .14 Mo the r t s Ward , Day Nu rse ry ,Ouadrang le B .

8 ,15 Chape l and S to res ,Ouadrang le A .

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8 .16 Ly ing - i n Home and Chape l ,Quad rang le B .

8 -17 Nu rse rs Room and K i t chen ,Ouadrang le A .

8 .18 D in i ng room, Ouad rang le A .

8 .19 S tab les r Ouad rang le A .

8 .20 I n f i rma ry Ward , D in i ngRoom, S ta f f D in i ng Room,Quadrang le A .

8 .21 D in i ng Room, K i t chen ,Cook rs . Room, Wards , Quad rang leA .

8 .22 In f i rmary Wards and WardsmenQuar te r s r Quad rang le A .

8 .23 Rea r o f I n f i rma ry Ward ,Quadrang le A .

8 .24 V iew o f I n f i rma ryBu i l d i ngs .

8 .25 Supe r i n tenden t f s House .

8 .26 Ma t ron rs O f f i ce , t aund ress t sRooms, Quadrang le A .

8 .27 B lock P lan o f t he Des t i t u t eAsy lum ( repea ted i l l u s t r a t i on )

8 .28 .1 Add i t i on , Des t i t u t eAsy Ium, s i de e l eva t i on .

8 .28 .2 Add i t i on , Des t i t u t eAsy lum, end e l eva t i on .

8 .28 .3 P lan o f Add i t i on ,Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .29 B lock P lan o f t heDes t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .30 Ou t l i ne P lan o f t heDes t i t u te Asy lum Furnace Room.

8 .31 .1 Co Ion ia I S to re , f r on te l eva t l on .

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8 .31 .2 Ground PLan o f t heCo lon ia l S to re .

8 .31 .3 Co lon iaL S to re , s i deeZeva t i on .

8 .32 .1 Na t i ve Schoo l , f r on te l eva t i on .

8 .32 .2 Na t i ve Schoo l , backe leva t i on .

8 .32 .3 Na t i ve Schoo l , s i dee leva t i on .

8 .32 .1 Ground f l oo r p l an o fNa t i ve Schoo l .

8 .32 .5 F i r s t f l oo r p l an o fNa t i ve Schoo l .

8 .33 .1 P lan o f t he Ly ing - i n Home .Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .33 .2 Wes te rn e l eva t i on o f t heLy ing - i n Home , Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .33 .3 Eas te rn e l eva t i on o f t het y i ng - i n Home , Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .3 { P Ian o f t he Ly ing - i n Home ,Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .35 Cap ta in F ree l i ng t s P Ian .

8 .35 P lan o f t he Chape l ,Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .3? .1 Ground p lan o f O f f i ceB lock and Causa l Ward .

8 .37 .2 K in to re Avenue e leva t i ono f O f f i ce B lock and Causa1 Ward .

8 .37 .3 E leva t i on o f O f f i ce B lockand Causa I Ward .

8 .37 .4 S ide e l eva t i on o f O f f i ceB lock and Causa l Ward .

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v l 1

LIST OF TABLES

TabIe

{ . 1 Room and Space A l l oca t i onsin Sampson Kemp tho rne rs Des ignfo r a Workhouse based on aSqua re P lan .

1 .2 A Compar i son o f RoomA l l oca t i ons Be tween t he Des ignso f Chr i s topher Ea les and SampsonKemptho rne .

, t 1 .3 A Compar i son o f RoomA l l oca t i ons Be tween t heSampson Kempthorne SquareWorkhouse and the Sma l lbu rghWorkhouse , No r fo l k .

4 . { Common Room A l - l oca t i onsin t he $Jo rkhouse S tud ied .

5 .1 I nma tes o f t he Des t i t u t eAsy lum by Admiss ion Ca tego r i es .

6 .2 I ndoo r Gende r D i s t r i bu t i onexc lud ing t he Ly ing - i n Casesand Ch i l d ren .

5 .3 Ly i ng - i n Cases Admi t t ed t oThe Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

8 .1 Conpa r i son o f t he Eng l i shIdo rkhouse Room A l l oca t i ons o fTab le 4 .5 w i t h t he Ade la i deDes t i t u t e Asy lum.

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ABBREVTATTONS USED IN THIS THESIS.

G.G - Governmen t Gaze t te o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a .

P .P - Pa r l i amen ta ry Pape rs o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a .

P .D . Leg . Counc i l - Pa r l i amen ta ry Deba tes :t eg i s l a t i ve Counc i l .

P .D . H . o f A . - Pa r l i amen ta ry Deba tes : House o fAssemb ly .

R .S .C .L .C .D .P . 1857 The Repo r t o f t he Se Iec tCommi t t ee o f t he Leg i s l a t i ve Counc i l on t heDes t i t u t e Poo r . Pape r No . 91 . Pa r l i amen ta ry Pape rs ,1868 .

D .C .F .P .R 1883 The F i r s t P rog ressRepor t o f t he Commiss ion appo in ted to repo r t on TheDes t i t u t e Ac t , L883 . Pub l i shed i n t he Pa r l i amen ta ryPape rs o f 1883 , No . 228

D .C .S .F .R . 1885 - The Second and F ina l Repo r t o ft he Commiss ion appo in ted t o r epo r t on The Des t i t u t eAc t , 1883 . Pub l i shed i n t he Pa r l i amen ta ry Pape rs o f1885 , No . 228 .

G .c . B1 -A . Rp t B i -annua l Repor t o f t he Des t i t u teBoa rd o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a pubL i shed i n t heGovernment Gazet te.

D .B . H in . - M inu tes o f t he Des t i t u t e Boa rd o f Sou thAus t ra l i a .

D .B . Le t te r Book Des t i t u te Board te t te r Book1858 -1850 .

C .S .O . - Co lon ia l t hen Ch ie f Sec re ta r y O f f i ce .Le t t e r s Rece l ved ,

A .Rec .Bk . - A rch i t ec t - I n -Ch ie f r s Reco rd Book .

A .Tend .Bk . - A rch i t ec t - I n -Ch ie f t s Tende r Book .

P .B .D . - Pub I i c Bu i l - d ings Depar tmen t Tender Book .

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARYDECLARATIONSACKNOTdTEDGEMENTSL I S T O F I L L U S T R A T I O N SL I S T O F T A B L E SA B B R E V I A T I O N S U S E D I N T H I S T H E S I S

CHAPTER

1 I N T R O D U C T I O N

L . 1 t i t e r a t u r e R e v i e w .1 . 1 T h e D e s t i t u t e A s Y l u m , A d e l a i d e ,

S o u t h A u s t r a l i a .

2 THE FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ANDTHE FORMATION OF THE DESTITUTE BOARD

. OF ADELAIDE.

P a g e

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Sys tema t i c Co lon i sa t i on and t heFounda t i on o f Sou th Aus t ra l i a .A New Soc ie t y and Em ig ra t i on .Ea r l y Poo r Re l i e f i n Sou th Aus t ra l i a :The Emig ra t i on Agen t And Fo rma t ionOf The Des t i t u t e Boa rd .

THE NEW POOR LAW AND THE WORKHOUSE IN 54ENGLAND

3 .1 The O ld Poo r Law and t he Ea r lYWorkhouses .

3 .2 The Fa i l u re o f t he O ld Poo r Law .3 .3 Ma l t hus and Ben tham: App roaches

Pove r t y and t he Ques t i on o f Poo rRe l i e f .

3 .4 The Roya l Commiss ion o f L832 and t he 83Poo r Law Repo r t .

3 .5 C lass i f i ca t i on and t he I , I o r khouse . 903 .5 The [ , Jo rkhouse and i t s I nma tes . 943 .7 The Workhouse i n t he M id -N ine teen th 98

Cen tu ry .Conc lus i on .

4 THE WORKHOUSE IN REAIITY.

4 .1 Workhouse Des igns : P lans andArch i t ec t r s D raw ings .

4 .2 Workhouse Des igns : Nove l s ,I l Lus t ra t i ons , and Desc r i p t i ons .

4 .3 A Workhouse Mode l .

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5 THE DESTITUTE BOARD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAAND A COLONIAL SYSTEM OF POOR RETIEF

5 .1 Poo r Re I i e f and t he Des t i t u t e Asy lum.

5 INMATES OF THE DESTITUTE ASYLUM.

5 .1 The I 11 and t he Aged .6 .2 Ly i ng - i n Women .5 .3 Ch i l d ren i n t he Des t i t u t e Asy lum.6 .4 Abo r i g i nes and t he Des t i t u t e Asy lum.Conc 1us i on

7 A H ISTORY OF THE DESTITUTE ASYLUM:DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

7 .1 . The C rea t i on o f t he Des t i t u t eAsy Ium.

7 . 2 . Unsu i t ab le Bu i l d i ngs .7 .3 . A New Pu rpose -Bu i l t Asy lum.7 . 4 . Accep tance .7 . 5 . D i scuss ionConc lus i on

8 A H ISTORY OF THE DESTITUTE ASYLUM:EVIDENCE FROM PLANS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

S. L V iews o f t he Asy lum.8 .2 D i scuss ion .8 .3 The Grow th o f an Asy lum.8 .4 The Workhouse Mode l and t he

Des t i t u t e Asy lum.Conc lus i on

9 CONCLUSION.

NOTES

APPENDIX A : Tab le 5 .1 I nma tes o f t heDes t i t u te Asy Ium

APPENDIX B ; Governmen t Expend i tu re onthe Des t i t u t e Poo r and t he Des t i t u t eAsy lum Bu i l d i ngs .

APPENDIX C : Requ i remen ts fo r a TownEs tab l i shmen t o f t he Des t i t u t e Asy lumand Ac tua l P rov i s i ons i n l - 883 .

APPENDIX D : A Des t i t u t e Asy lumChrono logy

BI BLI OGRAPHY

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