A history of the Lunatic Reception House, Darlinghurst

The Lunatic Reception House at Darlinghurst operated between 1868 and 1961. Established to remove the stigma of criminality from the care of the insane, it operated as an observation ward and was for most of its time the sole portal of entry into metropolitan psychiatric hospitals in Sydney. An account of its inception and notable aspects of its history, with particular reference to lunacy legislation, is presented.