In 1851 the original "special asylum" for Auckland received public support, and by 1853 Auckland's first asylum was built on the grounds of Auckland Hospital However, by 1862 this building was overcrowded and consequently support was sought from the provincial government Some of the bricks were produced on-site while others were produced at Dr Pollen's
Avondale brickyard. The building was complete in 1866, After the building was gutted by an 1877 fire, Philip Herapath supervised the reconstruction. The Crown purchased three allotments at a price of £4,200 to establish a farm for the asylum. It was to provide both food and work for the patients. A
piggery was built in the 1880s and a milking shed, hay store, and farm manager's home were constructed 1882. An extra building was constructed in 1884 to house a growing patient population. This building burnt to the ground in 1894 and was replaced with a new building. In the 1920s this new building was known as
Oakleigh Hall and was used as a 'parole villa'. The building is now known as Building 048. Other buildings constructed in the 1880s include a boiler room, drying room, and workshop buildings. Later constructions include accommodation for the
medical superintendent in 1909, two auxiliary hospital buildings in 1913 and 1915, and the Penman House in 1930. In December 1900, there were 494 patients—306 males and 188 females. The staff included 31 males and 21 females. The average net cost per patient was, in 1898, £19 13s, and, in 1899, £20 8s. The average number of patients sent out cured in 1898 was 51%, and in 1899, 38%; average deaths, 1898, 7.5; in 1899, 8.8. The officials of the institution at the time were Robert Martin Beattie, medical superintendent; William Webster, assistant medical officer; Edward Newport, head attendant; Sophia Campbell, matron; and J. D. Muir, farm manager. Religious service was held on Sunday by ministers of the denominations of which patients were members. It was known as Auckland Mental Health Hospital in 1959. In the 1960s, the work week averaged 60 hours and staff had only one day off each week. Avondale Mental Asylum became Oakley Hospital, it contained a male forensic unit and general psychiatric wards. The institute's centenary was celebrated in Oakley Hospital in 1967. The Auckland Psychiatric Hospital was officially renamed Oakley Hospital in 1960. Starting in 2018
Unitec transfer land to
the Crown as part of a roughly housing development involving the construction of thousands of homes. This development is known as the
Carrington Development. The development is being undertaken by the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with three different Maori groups as part of a treaty settlement. As of 2024 two wings of the building have been demolished to allow for a new road to be constructed. ==Description==