Z Ward for 'criminally insane' in South Australia from 1885, designed with humane ideals by E. John Woods
Z Ward, designed by prominent 19th Century South Australian government architect-in-chief E. John Woods, at the former Parkside/Glenside mental hospital site in Adelaide.
Adelaide's Glenside (formerly Parkside) Mental Hospital Z Ward was originally called L Ward until operators realised that it sounded too much like “Hell Ward”. But Z Ward, home for 90 years to South Australia’s “criminally insane”, was designed as an innovative attempt at a humane solution for patients.
Completed in 1885, Z Ward was created by E. John Woods, South Australia’s prominent government architect in chief who also was involved in major Adelaide works including St Peter’s Cathedral, the state library’s Mortlock Wing and parliament house.
Z Ward featured high ceilings, ornate windows and advanced ventilation. It was also home to a rare complete example of a “ha ha wall”, a deceptive design that provided security to the building while softening the prison-like image of high walls. The inner wall had several metres of soil excavated from boundary, changing the height considerably.
The ward had two floors with service and recreation areas and several rooms for the supervising attendants. The intent was to provide accommodation for violent and other difficult patients who couldn't be managed in the general hospital areas. Apart from paraldehyde, psychotropic drugs were not as yet available.
Z Ward could accommodate up to 40 patients mainly in single cells with minimal and secured furniture. Windows were barred and the entrance had double barred doors.
Officially decommissioned in 1973, the Z Ward site was lost to the public for years as it sat unoccupied except for core samples and files for the South Australian government mining department. In 2014, after strong community support, the National Trust of South Australia came to an agreement with owners Beach Energy to open the gates and shed new light on the architecture and sobering history of Z Ward.
In 2023, the title and keys of Z Ward were officially handed to the National Trust. The building continued hosting the popular Behind the Walls and Adelaide Haunted Horizon tours.
