Ten Victorian Women

An innocent girl is thrown among the worst criminals

The Lunatic Asylum Commission begun in 1862 recommended that Yarra Bend Asylum be closed and that lunatics no longer be lodged in gaols. It also recommended that regional asylums at Ararat and Beechworth be built, and an asylum on the Kew Reserve be constructed to take over from Yarra Bend. Most of the Commission's recommendations were implemented, although Yarra Bend Asylum remained open until 1924.

The following example of Catherine Nolan was used to illustrate to the Commission the unsuitability of the systems that were in place in the early 1860s to deal with 'lunatics'. The case was recorded in the Commission's minute books on Tuesday, 15 September 1863.

Catherine Nolan aged between 19 and 20 arrived in the Colony of Victoria about 18 months since was in the Employment of a family in Robe St St Kilda for 14 months and left her situation strongly recommended for her good moral and general conduct, she has been in her present situation about 4 months and is considered by her master a willing and industrious Girl and gave him every satisfaction. Her health has been generally good with the exception of a slight irregularity in the system which has existed for the last nine months.

On the evening of Friday the 4th inst having opened the Front Door to answer the Bell she hastily returned and rushed into the Parlour uttering a scream and asserting that a naked woman was at the Door. A female was standing outside who had called with a magpie belonging to the House and which had strayed, other Acts of a similar character were noticed during the Evening and she refused to go to her Bed when desired to do so she ultimately became very violent and finding all attempts to quiet her unavailing and fearing that she would jump from the Window or do herself some other injury a policeman was called who removed her to the Watchhouse where she passed the night, on the following morning was brought before the Magistrates, Dr Vanheinest saw her and said she was suffering from Hysteria she was remanded to the Western Gaol for a week for Medical examination on Monday the 7th inst her Master called at the Gaol but was not permitted to see her and was informed she had been very violent, on repeating his visit on Wednesday the 9th inst she was brought out in the yard she was in a jacket (straight waistcoat) and her altered appearance shocked him. she had lost flesh and her eyes and nose had assumed an unwonted prominence. There was an expression of Idiotcy [sic] about her that was painful to witness. she hid her face and would not speak. The female warder stated that she had been very quiet on the first day of her admission, that she subsequently became violent threw down two children and assaulted one of the Officers she had injured a woman in the eye by striking her with a piece of coal. that she had in consequence been since confined in the jacket.

This case is without doubt one that might be much benefitted [sic] by suitable treatment - which could not possibly be given in a Gaol - there is no opportunity of classifying the Inmates of the Western Gaol in a proper manner - and it [sic] surely a cruel wrong that an innocent Girl - because she has been afflicted with an attack of mental disease such as detailed in the case - should be associated with the worst criminals.

An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to lunatics was passed in 1867. The Act detailed procedures for admitting lunatics to asylums and hospitals, the establishment of asylums by proclamation, and the keeping of medical records.

No other references to Catherine Nolan are known.

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