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Pictures from Seaview abandoned hospital, Hokitika . - ALBUM -
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DescriptionClare Pierson.."There was originally a jail on this site. Read Misery Hill. Later Westland Hospital was built towards the north and Seaview Mental Hospital to the south of the extensive property. There was a laundry and a farm on which some patients worked, tennis courts, lovely landscaped grounds and gardens with magnificent views of mountains and sea. All meals were prepared for both hospitals and at some stage also provided meals on wheels in Hokitika. It was a lovely safe home for psychopedic residents who had been institutionalised from childhood and a respite for people who were not coping but did not have psychotic illnesses. More often than not those who did went to Sunnyside in Christchurch. The hospital also provided for elderly people who had dementia of one kind or another. Villas were gradually closed and Westland Hospital closed and demolished. To find out about the final battle to save the remnants of Seaview Hospital read Save Our Hospital written by Peter Neame.Map[1] ContributorTrudz FreedomVideo
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Location (city or town)HokitikaLandmark (Place)SeaviewOrganisation (eg business)Seaview HospitalEventPictures from Seaview abandoned hospital, Hokitika . - ALBUM -
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Date Created8th October 2020CommentsBarbara Fitzsimmons
Can't it be used for some kind of rebulation centre .sad .it go to the pack .Hamner the same . Such a shame these places left to rot .terrible .
Heather Newby
they should never have been closed down
Carrol Hunter
Would have made a lovely safe place for mental health healing Criminal just to let it rot to the ground
Owen Winstanley
When I used to visit the dementia unit 15 or so years ago the accommodation was less than third rate. Closing down and building new was the best option at the time.......unsure if that turned out for the best though
Graham Ngatuere
Use it for our aged folk....
Tom Jones
Can remember Ross Overton fighting tooth n nail to keep that place open, it employed a lot of Hokitika people, everyone knew someone that worked there,was nice gardens, bowling greens, tennis courts, swimming pool, nurses hostel, was closed n left to fall down,such a shame,end of a era for Hokitika
Maxine Hales Saunders
It is shocking,I g leaving - it in disrepair, and wasting money on getting security to patrol the area. The area would be good and ideal to build a rest home, and a DEMENTIA VILLAGE,like the one they have built in ROTORUA, AND ALSO HAVE IN HOLLAND.It would - be a great asset for future generations.NEW ZEALAND has lots of places ,ike this that are wasting away and are FIRE HAZARDS AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO WRECK.WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.????
Diane Craig
Maxine Hales Saunders it is privately owned.
Maxine Hales Saunders
Diane Craig who owns the land, ??
Neil Bannister
When did it close down and what kind of Hospital was it?
Naomi Georgina
Neil Bannister It was a mental hospital and it fully closed down in the early 2000s I think.
Jenny Adamson
Naomi Georgina it was a general hospital before it became a mental hospital
Naomi Georgina
Jenny Adamson Yeah, but when I was a kid and teen, it was a mental hospital so that's all I knew it as so that's what I told him but that's good you have that extra info for him.
George Brown
Westland was the general hospital !
Martin Burt
Jenny Adamson no, as george says westland was separate. Closed late 80s, and demolished.
Seaview was a prison before it was a mental hospital. Closex early 2000s. Originally had 12 villas, a farm, bakery and butchers When I syarted work there in 1972, it had over 500 occupants
Rissy Roo
Eileen McLeod this were you worked??
Helen Meredith
My aunt pat kelly worked there as nurseSue McCallum
I nursed at seaview for 6 yrs fr 81 Roni Wright u were there too
Judy Nicoll
Sue McCallum i nursed there from 86, retired from the MH unit in greymouth a year ago
Sue McCallum
Judy Nicoll ,well I left seaview end of 87 so prob did come across you
Sue McCallum
I did a drive through the hill of seaview and holi hospital site about 3 yrs ago I was shocked I tried remembering where sefton. Nokia kiwi arrangatu.Aarangi.wio.weka.tui his villas etc were was impossible
Leslie Connor
we used to live up their by the cemtery as kids an their used to be a bolwing green up their as well
Leslie Connor
an a sexton house that we lived in
]Jennifer Griffiths
Can’t it be used for something?
Janet Keats
Jennifer Griffiths It's such a shame. Worked there in 70s.Most villas demolished.
Dianne Patchett
Jennifer Griffiths wonder why they can't turn it into a backpackers or something, at least use it... Even the former nurses home in Reefton is useful in accommodation...
George Brown
It has been privately owned for many years .
Maegan Fraser
I’ve got lots of memories up there mum dad and nana all worked me and my sister used to Rome the building
Pauline Matene
I agree, so much waste of buildings
Joye Hanrahan
Neil it was a Mental Hospital I worked there for a few years so many amazing stories
Neil Bannister
Joye Hanrahan .
Would be interesting. I think one of our rellies was a patient there a one stage.
Just guessing though.
Nicky Ramsay
Could be reformed for social housing
Sue Smith
My dads aunt was there for a long time - all that was wrong with her was post natal deptession - what a waste of her life. I got to meet her at least.
· Reply · 15h
Kyle Webster
Single men's quarter's
Sheryl Elizabeth Paki
I thought this hospital was getting done up and was like a hostel there was something on FB awhile ago about it
Raewyn Stephens
he puts the money into the Doctors offices that are now rooms and into Kiwi that is back packers. All other villas have gone from restorable to no windows and rotten in the 15 odd yrs they have had it. He started selling parts off when his rates went from 2000 for the whole hill to what it should be..
Sheryl Elizabeth Paki yeah parts a lived in and some buildings are better than others my friend is the caretaker and so long as I'm respectful I can go through
Raewyn Stephens
sadly he sucked every one into believing he was going to restore the villas. Bwhahahahahah.
Sonia Dando
My great grandfather was a patient in the mental hospital there I have all his hospital records very interesting reading had no idea what was wrong with him paralysis of the brain what a joke in a strait jacket
Today we diagnosed as dementia
· Reply · 15h
Andrea Dando
Sonia Dando wow I worked there for a while. Could you send me a copy please?
Neil Bannister
Sonia Dando .
Where did you obtain his records from?
Sonia Dando
Neil Bannister from Wellington they apparently hold all records there as tried to contact SeaView this was 2006/7 doing the family tree and I was told to get from Wellington
]Sonia Dando
Andrea Dando I’ll get them out and photo them and pm to you
This is mums grandfather William Charles Williams he was born in Boston Massachusetts and came to Hokitika and is buried there
Sonia Dando
Lunatic Asylum is what it is stated on my Great grandfathers hospital records that’s pretty gross
Neil Bannister
Sonia Dando .
Thank you.
Sonia Dando
Neil Bannister I’ve a book sent to NZ for
Misery Hill
The home of the dead the bad and the mad … See More
Evelyn Dalzell
Sounds awful
Andrea Dando
Sonia Dando thanks I I can't wait to read it
Janaka Mary Bartlett
Sonia Dando my Grandmother was in Seaview for at least 30 year's.
Sonia are you able to tell me where and how you went about getting your Granddad's records.
I can remember my Grandmother coming out of Seaview from time to time but then she was put ba… See More
Sonia Dando
Janaka Mary Bartlett from records held in Wellington when contacted the Westland hospital like all births deaths and marriage get from Wellington now
I’m in Perth Australia
Sonia Dando
Andrea Dando relating to the book I got it from Hokitika and sent over to me pretty sad story
Leonie Jennings
Horrible place and treatment saw it first hand.
· Reply · 15h
Gail Howard
My great uncle was a patient. I believe he was committed after he set some curtains on fire. Once again probably dementia. The poor old souls who paid in full for what is a natural process for many of us.
Linda Howard
My mum worked there pre-war. Later on when it was used as an orthopaedic hospital I used to go down and work there on odd days.
Judy Nicoll
Linda Howard that was Westland hospital
Linda Howard
Judy Nicoll Okay
Alex McDougall
My Granddad Martini worked there. He used to bike in from Stafford/Goldsborough area every day and back in the evening.
Trudz Freedom
badge icon
I'm sorry to here about some of these stories some buildings are still good done are decrepit two torn down my friend is the caretaker and I go through if I'm respectful and let him know videos available on my YouTube channel
Its2tucky 4dinner
Hope all enjoyed
Craig Hames
Lets make a movie what a setting
Arlene Hutcheon
We were there 5 years ago, when visiting Hokitika. All buildings were gone, nothing there. Anyone know what had happened to the site, development? A wonderful view up there.
Sandra Arnott
Arlene Hutcheon something going on atm driveway being cleared!
Anne Bruce
I went there with my Mother when I was about 14. Mum's father had died and the family then discovered he had a 'hidden sister'. She had been born with an arm deformity and was put in Seaview, out of sight and mind. Even at 14 I knew this was so wrong… See More
Sue McCallum
Anne Bruce yes that did happen alot I nursed in Huia villa where as young unmarried mothers ended up babies taken and to avoid shame families threw them into psyc hospitals along with many babies born w down sydrome birth defects cognitive deformities… See More
Terry Nuttall
Terry Nuttall my dad worked there for many years initially as a male nurse and the as the fire chief, I believe his loved engine is on display in Hokies somewhere.Dad would be so proud.
Clare Pierson
There was originally a jail on this site. Read Misery Hill. Later Westland Hospital was built towards the north and Seaview Mental Hospital to the south of the extensive property. There was a laundry and a farm on which some patients worked, tennis courts, lovely landscaped grounds and gardens with magnificent views of mountains and sea. All meals were prepared for both hospitals and at some stage also provided meals on wheels in Hokitika. It was a lovely safe home for psychopedic residents who had been institutionalised from childhood and a respite for people who were not coping but did not have psychotic illnesses. More often than not those who did went to Sunnyside in Christchurch. The hospital also provided for elderly people who had dementia of one kind or another. Villas were gradually closed and Westland Hospital closed and demolished. To find out about the final battle to save the remnants of Seaview Hospital read Save Our Hospital written by Peter Neame. He, with the then Mayor, Henry Pierson, Ross Overton and others on the committee organised a sit in and there was a convoy to Greymouth to protest to the Hospital Board in Greymouth.
onnie Ruth
badge icon
https://youtu.be/Z29-9EHgnLU
Hokitika Mental Asylum - Seaview Hospital & Cemetery
YOUTUBE.COM
Hokitika Mental Asylum - Seaview Hospital & Cemetery
Sue McCallum
Bonnie Ruth so sad seeing the pics of how the hill is now
Myron Caldwell
think of the homeless who could be housed there. Better still the mental patients who could be helped there if it was allowed back into the system. They have cut back and closed places that could do so good for people with drink, drug and mental issues. Modern thinking....give them a pill and send them home or back on the streets.
· Reply · 2d
Nana Johnston
Myron Caldwell bloody disgusting they havent put it to good use withhout having to be told what to do. &long before this.
Tony Kirwan
well said.....agree with you...
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Should have been bought by the council and turned into a holistic sheltered village, I cannot visit the site now, prefer my memories of the wonderful Seaview family of which I was/am still a part of. It’s in ya blood, psych nursing still, 30 plus years… See More
Martin Burt
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer dam straight.
Julie Berriman
We used the operating theatre to do some ops in the 1980s i think we cleared a backlog. My territorial army unit from Burnham. Busmans holiday for some of us but good training for the medics and did the community some good.
Wayne Thornton
No wonder the WCDHB has not any money psych ward in greymouth vastly inferior
Leslie Connor
NO THEY DEMO IT OR MOVEIT
Trudz Freedom
Leslie Connor no its still there is go there a lot and people live in some of the buildings......
Leslie Connor
I WENT THEIR LAST YEAR TOSEE MY GRAND MOTHER AN UNCLE IJMMEY AREUP THEIR
Trudz Freedom
Leslie Connor yes so you would know that there buildings there look I'm not going you argue with someone who is wrong Google Earth it look my YouTube channel I go there weekly my pip came from there and my mate watches the three abandoned buildings and… See More
Marcia Hogan
Trudz Freedom gosh that's some fabulous England going on!
Can't it be used for some kind of rebulation centre .sad .it go to the pack .Hamner the same . Such a shame these places left to rot .terrible .
Heather Newby
they should never have been closed down
Carrol Hunter
Would have made a lovely safe place for mental health healing Criminal just to let it rot to the ground
Owen Winstanley
When I used to visit the dementia unit 15 or so years ago the accommodation was less than third rate. Closing down and building new was the best option at the time.......unsure if that turned out for the best though
Graham Ngatuere
Use it for our aged folk....
Tom Jones
Can remember Ross Overton fighting tooth n nail to keep that place open, it employed a lot of Hokitika people, everyone knew someone that worked there,was nice gardens, bowling greens, tennis courts, swimming pool, nurses hostel, was closed n left to fall down,such a shame,end of a era for Hokitika
Maxine Hales Saunders
It is shocking,I g leaving - it in disrepair, and wasting money on getting security to patrol the area. The area would be good and ideal to build a rest home, and a DEMENTIA VILLAGE,like the one they have built in ROTORUA, AND ALSO HAVE IN HOLLAND.It would - be a great asset for future generations.NEW ZEALAND has lots of places ,ike this that are wasting away and are FIRE HAZARDS AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO WRECK.WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.????
Diane Craig
Maxine Hales Saunders it is privately owned.
Maxine Hales Saunders
Diane Craig who owns the land, ??
Neil Bannister
When did it close down and what kind of Hospital was it?
Naomi Georgina
Neil Bannister It was a mental hospital and it fully closed down in the early 2000s I think.
Jenny Adamson
Naomi Georgina it was a general hospital before it became a mental hospital
Naomi Georgina
Jenny Adamson Yeah, but when I was a kid and teen, it was a mental hospital so that's all I knew it as so that's what I told him but that's good you have that extra info for him.
George Brown
Westland was the general hospital !
Martin Burt
Jenny Adamson no, as george says westland was separate. Closed late 80s, and demolished.
Seaview was a prison before it was a mental hospital. Closex early 2000s. Originally had 12 villas, a farm, bakery and butchers When I syarted work there in 1972, it had over 500 occupants
Rissy Roo
Eileen McLeod this were you worked??
Helen Meredith
My aunt pat kelly worked there as nurseSue McCallum
I nursed at seaview for 6 yrs fr 81 Roni Wright u were there too
Judy Nicoll
Sue McCallum i nursed there from 86, retired from the MH unit in greymouth a year ago
Sue McCallum
Judy Nicoll ,well I left seaview end of 87 so prob did come across you
Sue McCallum
I did a drive through the hill of seaview and holi hospital site about 3 yrs ago I was shocked I tried remembering where sefton. Nokia kiwi arrangatu.Aarangi.wio.weka.tui his villas etc were was impossible
Leslie Connor
we used to live up their by the cemtery as kids an their used to be a bolwing green up their as well
Leslie Connor
an a sexton house that we lived in
]Jennifer Griffiths
Can’t it be used for something?
Janet Keats
Jennifer Griffiths It's such a shame. Worked there in 70s.Most villas demolished.
Dianne Patchett
Jennifer Griffiths wonder why they can't turn it into a backpackers or something, at least use it... Even the former nurses home in Reefton is useful in accommodation...
George Brown
It has been privately owned for many years .
Maegan Fraser
I’ve got lots of memories up there mum dad and nana all worked me and my sister used to Rome the building
Pauline Matene
I agree, so much waste of buildings
Joye Hanrahan
Neil it was a Mental Hospital I worked there for a few years so many amazing stories
Neil Bannister
Joye Hanrahan .
Would be interesting. I think one of our rellies was a patient there a one stage.
Just guessing though.
Nicky Ramsay
Could be reformed for social housing
Sue Smith
My dads aunt was there for a long time - all that was wrong with her was post natal deptession - what a waste of her life. I got to meet her at least.
· Reply · 15h
Kyle Webster
Single men's quarter's
Sheryl Elizabeth Paki
I thought this hospital was getting done up and was like a hostel there was something on FB awhile ago about it
Raewyn Stephens
he puts the money into the Doctors offices that are now rooms and into Kiwi that is back packers. All other villas have gone from restorable to no windows and rotten in the 15 odd yrs they have had it. He started selling parts off when his rates went from 2000 for the whole hill to what it should be..
Sheryl Elizabeth Paki yeah parts a lived in and some buildings are better than others my friend is the caretaker and so long as I'm respectful I can go through
Raewyn Stephens
sadly he sucked every one into believing he was going to restore the villas. Bwhahahahahah.
Sonia Dando
My great grandfather was a patient in the mental hospital there I have all his hospital records very interesting reading had no idea what was wrong with him paralysis of the brain what a joke in a strait jacket
Today we diagnosed as dementia
· Reply · 15h
Andrea Dando
Sonia Dando wow I worked there for a while. Could you send me a copy please?
Neil Bannister
Sonia Dando .
Where did you obtain his records from?
Sonia Dando
Neil Bannister from Wellington they apparently hold all records there as tried to contact SeaView this was 2006/7 doing the family tree and I was told to get from Wellington
]Sonia Dando
Andrea Dando I’ll get them out and photo them and pm to you
This is mums grandfather William Charles Williams he was born in Boston Massachusetts and came to Hokitika and is buried there
Sonia Dando
Lunatic Asylum is what it is stated on my Great grandfathers hospital records that’s pretty gross
Neil Bannister
Sonia Dando .
Thank you.
Sonia Dando
Neil Bannister I’ve a book sent to NZ for
Misery Hill
The home of the dead the bad and the mad … See More
Evelyn Dalzell
Sounds awful
Andrea Dando
Sonia Dando thanks I I can't wait to read it
Janaka Mary Bartlett
Sonia Dando my Grandmother was in Seaview for at least 30 year's.
Sonia are you able to tell me where and how you went about getting your Granddad's records.
I can remember my Grandmother coming out of Seaview from time to time but then she was put ba… See More
Sonia Dando
Janaka Mary Bartlett from records held in Wellington when contacted the Westland hospital like all births deaths and marriage get from Wellington now
I’m in Perth Australia
Sonia Dando
Andrea Dando relating to the book I got it from Hokitika and sent over to me pretty sad story
Leonie Jennings
Horrible place and treatment saw it first hand.
· Reply · 15h
Gail Howard
My great uncle was a patient. I believe he was committed after he set some curtains on fire. Once again probably dementia. The poor old souls who paid in full for what is a natural process for many of us.
Linda Howard
My mum worked there pre-war. Later on when it was used as an orthopaedic hospital I used to go down and work there on odd days.
Judy Nicoll
Linda Howard that was Westland hospital
Linda Howard
Judy Nicoll Okay
Alex McDougall
My Granddad Martini worked there. He used to bike in from Stafford/Goldsborough area every day and back in the evening.
Trudz Freedom
badge icon
I'm sorry to here about some of these stories some buildings are still good done are decrepit two torn down my friend is the caretaker and I go through if I'm respectful and let him know videos available on my YouTube channel
Its2tucky 4dinner
Hope all enjoyed
Craig Hames
Lets make a movie what a setting
Arlene Hutcheon
We were there 5 years ago, when visiting Hokitika. All buildings were gone, nothing there. Anyone know what had happened to the site, development? A wonderful view up there.
Sandra Arnott
Arlene Hutcheon something going on atm driveway being cleared!
Anne Bruce
I went there with my Mother when I was about 14. Mum's father had died and the family then discovered he had a 'hidden sister'. She had been born with an arm deformity and was put in Seaview, out of sight and mind. Even at 14 I knew this was so wrong… See More
Sue McCallum
Anne Bruce yes that did happen alot I nursed in Huia villa where as young unmarried mothers ended up babies taken and to avoid shame families threw them into psyc hospitals along with many babies born w down sydrome birth defects cognitive deformities… See More
Terry Nuttall
Terry Nuttall my dad worked there for many years initially as a male nurse and the as the fire chief, I believe his loved engine is on display in Hokies somewhere.Dad would be so proud.
Clare Pierson
There was originally a jail on this site. Read Misery Hill. Later Westland Hospital was built towards the north and Seaview Mental Hospital to the south of the extensive property. There was a laundry and a farm on which some patients worked, tennis courts, lovely landscaped grounds and gardens with magnificent views of mountains and sea. All meals were prepared for both hospitals and at some stage also provided meals on wheels in Hokitika. It was a lovely safe home for psychopedic residents who had been institutionalised from childhood and a respite for people who were not coping but did not have psychotic illnesses. More often than not those who did went to Sunnyside in Christchurch. The hospital also provided for elderly people who had dementia of one kind or another. Villas were gradually closed and Westland Hospital closed and demolished. To find out about the final battle to save the remnants of Seaview Hospital read Save Our Hospital written by Peter Neame. He, with the then Mayor, Henry Pierson, Ross Overton and others on the committee organised a sit in and there was a convoy to Greymouth to protest to the Hospital Board in Greymouth.
onnie Ruth
badge icon
https://youtu.be/Z29-9EHgnLU
Hokitika Mental Asylum - Seaview Hospital & Cemetery
YOUTUBE.COM
Hokitika Mental Asylum - Seaview Hospital & Cemetery
Sue McCallum
Bonnie Ruth so sad seeing the pics of how the hill is now
Myron Caldwell
think of the homeless who could be housed there. Better still the mental patients who could be helped there if it was allowed back into the system. They have cut back and closed places that could do so good for people with drink, drug and mental issues. Modern thinking....give them a pill and send them home or back on the streets.
· Reply · 2d
Nana Johnston
Myron Caldwell bloody disgusting they havent put it to good use withhout having to be told what to do. &long before this.
Tony Kirwan
well said.....agree with you...
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Should have been bought by the council and turned into a holistic sheltered village, I cannot visit the site now, prefer my memories of the wonderful Seaview family of which I was/am still a part of. It’s in ya blood, psych nursing still, 30 plus years… See More
Martin Burt
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer dam straight.
Julie Berriman
We used the operating theatre to do some ops in the 1980s i think we cleared a backlog. My territorial army unit from Burnham. Busmans holiday for some of us but good training for the medics and did the community some good.
Wayne Thornton
No wonder the WCDHB has not any money psych ward in greymouth vastly inferior
Leslie Connor
NO THEY DEMO IT OR MOVEIT
Trudz Freedom
Leslie Connor no its still there is go there a lot and people live in some of the buildings......
Leslie Connor
I WENT THEIR LAST YEAR TOSEE MY GRAND MOTHER AN UNCLE IJMMEY AREUP THEIR
Trudz Freedom
Leslie Connor yes so you would know that there buildings there look I'm not going you argue with someone who is wrong Google Earth it look my YouTube channel I go there weekly my pip came from there and my mate watches the three abandoned buildings and… See More
Marcia Hogan
Trudz Freedom gosh that's some fabulous England going on!
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West Coast New Zealand History (12th Oct 2020). Pictures from Seaview abandoned hospital, Hokitika . - ALBUM -. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 13th Apr 2026 06:03, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28545