A decade by decade history of nursing at the former Heathcote Psychiatric Hospital West Australia 1929-1994 (now Heathcote Cultural Precinct). The book is informed by oral history, biography, published works, Acts of Parliament, Reports of Royal Commissions and Select Committee Reviews and scholarly articles. It covers the history of the care of the mentally ill from the foundation of the Swan River Colony to the opening of Heathcote Hospital examining some of the the issues that impacted the culture of nursing including but not limited to education, industrial action, major world events and the social conscience.