[5] Dr Herbert Macandrew was appointed medical officer in 1887, a position he held for 28 years.

[1][4] The new buildings, Buchanan's changes in the way the hospital was run and the use of qualified general and psychiatric staff resulted in better therapeutic and custodial care of patients.

Buchanan also improved the relationship with the nearby Westland Hospital and had a road built between the two institutions.

[4] During and after the war there was a shortage of staff and patients undertook the work needed to maintain the hospital's services.

[1] During the 1950s patient care became more curative as convulsive and drug therapies were introduced but full adoption of these new procedures was hindered by staff shortages and finances.

[9] The hospital cared for patients with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric and psychogeriatric conditions and the frail elderly.

[7] Three units were closed in the 1990s; in 2002, the hospital board sold the asylum to a property developer though some buildings were leased back.

[9] Since the facility has been closed it has been used on numerous occasions by the New Zealand Defence Force to stage urban warfare, search and rescue and public disorder exercises.

Located on a government reserve, the land was terraced and consisted of approximately 150 acres (61 ha).

The Seaview Lighthouse, a Category II registered Historic Place erected in 1879, was once scheduled for demolition, but it found new leases of life as an observation tower for hospital and as a coast watch station during World War Il.

[12] The land is now sparsely populated and many of the buildings are falling into disrepair, the swimming pool and tennis courts are abandoned but still retain key features such as the nets and diving boards.