Glenn Martin's grandmother, Elizabeth Martin, had a mental breakdown after the birth of her seventh child, and was admitted to a mental institution in Sydney in 1920. She never came out, and died at Orange in 1955. This story came to light when Glenn was researching his family history. The slides tell some of that story.

1. Elizabeth Martin
1882 – 1957
Grandmother of Glenn Martin
Brian Martin
and Helena Yates

2. Elizabeth Martin’s memorial is at
Canobolas Crematorium, Orange.
ELIZABETH MARTIN
DIED 1ST AUGUST,
1957
AGED 73.
“ALWAYS REMEMBERED
BY FAMILY
God Bless.”

3. At her death, Elizabeth had
spent 37 years in two mental
institutions: Callan Park, from
February 1921, then Orange
Mental Hospital from 1930.
She was 37 when she was
admitted to Callan Park, five
months after the birth of her
seventh child, Frances. Our
dad (Sydney James Martin)
was just seven years old; he
was the fourth child.
Elizabeth had been ranting
and delusional for weeks; she
was admitted to hospital
after swallowing sheep dip.

4. The Florentine Wall
The memorial plaque
for Elizabeth (“Lizzie” on
her marriage certificate)
is in the Florentine Wall
at the crematorium,
which was opened just
the year before her
death.
Dad’s oldest brother,
Norm, the eldest son,
requested that she be
cremated rather than
buried.

5. Norm Martin attended the funeral.
Norm Martin attended the
funeral. It seems that he was the
only person from the family to
attend.
He paid the difference between
what the hospital paid for the
funeral and what the cremation
cost.
He expressed appreciation for all
the hospital had done for his
mother.
(Hospital’s notes)

6. William Thomas Martin died in 1955
Elizabeth’s husband,
William Thomas Martin,
had died two years
earlier, on 16th
December 1955.
On his death certificate
his marital status was
noted as “Married”,
despite the fact that
they had not lived
together for over thirty
years.
He is buried at Woronora
Cemetery, along with
other members of the
Martin family.

7. The setting for Elizabeth’s memorial
It is not know why
Norm wanted
Elizabeth to be
cremated, but
certainly there is a
grandeur about her
final resting place that
belies the beleagured
circumstances of her
life.

8. Notice of death from hospital
The telegram notifying the family of Elizabeth’s death was sent to
George Martin, who lived with his father, William Thomas, until the
latter’s death in 1955.

9. Grounds of Canobolas Crematorium,
Orange
A wooded hillside at
Orange came to be
Elizabeth Hannah
Martin’s final resting
place, after long years
of melancholy and
estrangement.

10. George Martin’s letter
George Martin, who was two years
younger than our dad, received the
telegram about the death of his mother
and wrote back to the hospital:
I received your telegram yesterday, and was
deeply moved of the situation. My father, Mr
William Thomas Martin, passed away the
16th December 1955.
The last time I seen my mother was when I
was about six years of age. I have spoken to
my elder brother [Norm], the next of kin,
and he may try and contact you by phone.
Thanking you very much for your telegram.
I remain yours sincerely,
G. Martin

11. Orange Mental Hospital
Bloomfield Hospital* lies
on the south-eastern
outskirts of Orange, on 640
acres.
Opened in the 1920s as the
Orange Mental Hospital, it
favoured clusters of
smaller buildings over large
institutional structures,
and emphasised open
space and gardens as
restorative influences.
People with mental
conditions were no longer
seen as criminals. Rather,
their condition was seen as
a disease that good
surroundings might assist
to cure.
* Orange Mental Hospital was renamed in the 1950s as
Bloomfield Hospital.

12. The transfer of Elizabeth
In the 1920s, Callan Park
Mental Hospital in Sydney
was over-crowded, and
the hospital at Orange was
built to alleviate this
situation. It was built to
take about 1,200 patients.
(Aerial photo 1932)
Elizabeth was transferred
to Orange on 13th February
1930. The medical notes
describe her behaviour as
“idle, solitary, reserved,
delusional. Transferred
not improved”.

13. Elizabeth’s belongings
A docket listing Elizabeth’s belongings
accompanied her upon transfer to
Orange in February 1930.
It’s not much – top coat; hat; 4 – no, 3
dresses; 2 petticoats; 1 singlet; 2 pairs
hose; 1 pair shoes; 1 pair bloomers.
At a second reading, you see that these
are the same clothes she had upon
admission in February 1921. Hence the
4 dresses have diminished to 3.

14. Her mother’s reaction to the move
Elizabeth’s mother did not know
until afterwards that she had
been transferred to Orange. On
5th March 1930 she wrote to the
Medical Superintendent at
Orange:
Dear Sir,
It came as a great surprise when
you sent me word that Lizzie
Martin (my daughter) had left
Callan Park. I hope it is for the
best. Would you kindly let me
know how she is as I am anxious
and you will greatly oblige.
Yours obediently,
Mrs E. Eaglestone

15. Buildings at Bloomfield

16. Buildings at Bloomfield

17. Buildings at Bloomfield

18. The grounds

19. The grounds

20. The grounds

21. A gentle environment
The grounds of the
hospital attract the
presence of kangaroos.

22. Photo of Elizabeth Martin at Orange,
probably taken in late 1940s.
Her mother died in 1937.
A file note in August 1942 states “She
has no letters, no visitors.”
A file note in 1945 says she has “no
amusements”; when she is unsettled
she is “restless, violent and destructive.
Otherwise she is dull and quiet”. “She
speaks rarely.” “She answers some
questions, but she is mostly confused,
disoriented and incoherent.”

23. No visitors
The hospital wrote to
Elizabeth’s husband in February
1947 to advise that she was
“failing in health and should be
visited”.
He writes in reply, three weeks
later:
I just received your letter,
which was wrongly addressed. I
thank you for writing to me.
Would you please let me know
how my wife Elizabeth Martin
is at present. Sorry I cannot
visit her as I am in bad health
myself.
W. T. Martin

24. Accommodation
Elizabeth was
housed in Ward
F5, one of the
many buildings
on the grounds.
She had a single
room.
The hospital had
many activities
for patients, but
she did not
engage in any of
these activities.

25. Activities
Mental health
authorities believed in
the value of
recreational activities in
the care of the mentally
ill. The centrepiece of
the buildings was the
Recreational Centre.
From the 1950s, when
migrants from Europe
boosted the hospital’s
workforce, many
theatrical productions
were staged here.

26. “Festival of Spring”
The 1950s was a vibrant time for the hospital, with regular entertainments
staged by the Bloomfield Theatrical Society. In August 1957 it staged a
musical written by one of the migrant workers, Jaroslav Broz – “Festival of
Spring”. It was a great success.

27. The end of Elizabeth’s life
Elizabeth did not live to see
“Festival of Spring”. She
died on 1st August 1957, at
9:00 am, in the presence of
Nurse Reynolds, of a cardiac
lesion.
She was 75.
Born 4th June 1882 at Balmain.
Married William Thomas
Martin on 22nd July 1908 at St
Peters.
Admitted to Callan Park on 23rd
February 1921 at 38 years of
age.

28. Elizabeth Hannah Martin [Eaglestone]
Always remembered by family.
God bless.

29. Acknowledgments
Slides prepared by Glenn Martin, September 2015.
Photos of Canobolas Crematorium and Bloomfield Hospital taken by Glenn
Martin, August 2015.
Information about the hospital and aerial photo in 1932 drawn from Bloomfield
Hospital Conservation Management Plan, 2006, NSW Government Architects
Office.
Patient information about Elizabeth Martin obtained from medical records of
Callan Park and Bloomfield Hospitals.
Photo of Elizabeth Martin obtained from medical records of Bloomfield Hospital.
Contact:
glenn@glennmartin.com.au