On the front (rear) face of this metal firescreen is an image of the RVIB St Kilda Road building and front gardens, with the words 'Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind' in curved lettering above the building. A name plate is attached by cord to the firescreen, which reads "In Memory Of M.N. Moylan Life Member Brighton Auxiliary". It is unknown whether the firescreen was made by blind metal workers, however it shows signs of use, quite possibly at the St Kilda Road building itself.Metal fire screen with etched image and attached plateRoyal Victorian Institute for the Blind In Memory of M.N. Moylan Life Member Brighton Auxiliaryroyal victorian institute for the blind, m.n. moylan

Plaque commemorating the awarding of the Takeo Iwahashi Prize to Hugh Jeffrey in 1988. Takeo Iwahashi was the founder of the Nippon Lighhouse for the Blind in Japan. He made an enormous contribution to the lives and progress of blind people around the world, and was a great friend of Helen Keller. The annual Takeo Iwahashi Award was founded in his memory and is awarded to a "worker for the blind whose contribution to work for the blind in the fields of education, training, rehabilitation, placement, prevention and cure of blindness, administration of services for the welfare of the blind or any other program related to the welfare of the blind has been outstanding." The plaque features two roughly rectangular wooden veneer boards, one smaller layered on top of the larger, with the top edges aligning. On the smaller top layer is a round metal disc featuring a raised relief portrait of Takeo Iwahashi. Printed above in gold lettering is the following: The 13th Annual Takeo Iwahashi Prize Mr Harold Hugh Jeffrey" Below the disc is printed "March 16 1988. Nomination Committee Takeo Iwahashi Award. Nippon Lighthouse, Welfare Center for the Blind." On the back of the plaque is a metal plate with a Braille transcription of the text.1 wooden block with metal plaqueThe 13th Annual Takeo Iwahashi Prize Mr Harold Hugh Jeffrey March 16 1988. Nomination Committee Takeo Iwahashi Award. Nippon Lighthouse, Welfare Center for the Blind.hugh jeffrey, awards

RVIB workers putting together packages for Berri Juice, which included a game and information about juicing. Reuben Ryan is closest to camera, while Pat stands next in the line. Reuben worked in the factory for over 40 years.1 x black and white photographJO1737royal victorian institute for the blind, reuben ryan

RVIB assembly line workers putting together fire engine toys for children.1 x black and white photograph of men on an assembly lineNo 3061royal victorian institute for the blind, employment

David Blyth, worker at the RVIB Factory, stacking cans The picture dates to about 1958 when we were packing emergency supplies for the Army. The pack were rations which were dropped by aircraft to troops in the field. 1 B/W image of man removing cans from rows and placing into cartonroyal victorian institute for the blind, david blyth

F2 - Coir matting loom is expertly handled by this blind operator. F5 - Machine cold binding of a millet broom. F7 - Final trimming of a special mat. F9 - Checking and packaging of brush ware is easy to this tradesman.4 B/W photographs of workers in the mat and brush shopsF2 - Mat Shop 1 1964 F5 - BFactory 3 F7 - Pic N123, 6846# F9 - Brush Factory 5 6846# 1964royal victorian institute for the blind, employment

Worker at the loom in the mat shop.1 B/W photographroyal victorian institute for the blind

192 - James Murphy at the RVIB Brush factory. 193 - unknown worker inspects the millet heads. 195 - unknown worker stacks the newly made brooms together for delivery. From the annotation on the back of 193, these images may have been taken for the 1964 annual report.3 B/W photographs192 - Brush Factory 1 193 - Brush Factory 2, AR 1964 195 - Brush Factory 4royal victorian institute for the blind

Pictures taken by Herald Sun photographers of RVIB workers constructing toy boats on a production line and using a band saw.2 B/W photographsHerald Sunroyal victorian institute for the blind

RVIB workers place seeds into packets on a production line.1 x B/W photographJO 4081royal victorian institute for the blind

Unknown RVIB worker wearing a dust jacket, sits as he places something into paper packets. His guide dog stands next to him, out of harness, with his lead in the man's lap. 1 B/W photograph of man at a worktableAR 1964royal victorian institute for the blind, dogs

Three workers wearing RVIB white aprons on a production line for toy trucks. The two men seated either side of the table, add wheels to the cabin bases, whilst a third man holds the completed truck (cabin and trailer) at the end of the line.1 B/W photograph of three men on toy production line3060royal victorian institute for the blind, employment

Sir Rohan Delacombe opens the new wing of Mirridong Nursing home, named in honour of long-time and tireless worker, Katharine Rose. Pictures show Sir Rohan meeting residents, addressing the crowd, unveiling the plaque, walking through the wing and signing the visitors book, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Delacombe, Katharine Rose and a man in military dress. The last image is of Katharine Rose addressing the crowd under the 'Mirridong Home for the Blind' sign.10 x Black and White photographs of people at the openingE.P Cameronassociation for the blind, mirridong home (bendigo), katharine (kitty) rose, sir rohan delacombe

A group of QBIC workers and administrative staff. This image was used in the book "Vision Queensland, QBIC and Queensland Industrial Institution: a history 1883-1998" by Basil Shaw. Left to Right: Back row: Lionel Hubon, John Reed, Alan Nemeth, Lindsay Arndt, Kevin Watts, Tom Chawner. Third row: Sam McCord, Colin Ingram, Diane King, Jenny Scown, Andrew Brown, Lloyd Miles, Michael Thorn. Second row: Kenny Rogers, Yvonne Lord, Joe Seeto, Duncan Collard, Richard Howell, Greg Bond, Mark Pelgrave, May Brown. Front row: Tom Rowe, Michael Bor, Vicki Waugh, Anne Van Bekkum, Cathie Dendrik, Barbara Harding, Anne Maree O'Connell.1 x col. photograph of peopleProperty of Sam McCord - please return 20 Enlarge to 2 col wideemployment, qbic industries, lionel hubon, john reed, alan nemeth, lindsay arndt, kevin watts, tom chawner, sam mccord, colin ingram, diane king, jenny scown, andrew brown, lloyd miles, michael thorn, kenny rogers, yvonne lord, joe seeto, duncan collard, richard howell, greg bond, mark pelgrave, may brown, tom rowe, michael bor, vicki waugh, anne van bekkum, cathie dendrik, barbara harding, anne-marie o'connell

Fives images of the workshop machinery used by the Queensland Industrial Institute for the Blind in the manufacture of various products. 1 - Pitched brooms being made by Stewart Jewell (left) and Jack Dollier (right). 2 - Unknown worker at a basket station making a cane basket, surrounded by finished examples. 3 - Snowy Willis oversees the operation of the machine that bores holes into brush heads. 4 - Unknown worker operating a coir matting machine. There were apparently 10 such machines in use at the time this image was taken. 5 - Snowy Willis checking the bobbins being filled from a giant spool. In the background are empty bobbins stacked against walls and filled bobbins on spool holders. 6 - Roy Anderson checks the wadding on a recently filled mattress, whilst in the background Ellen McDevitt uses a portable sewing table to sew the ends of a filled mattress.6 x B/W photographs of the workshop machinery used by the Queensland Industrial Institute for the BlindC2-657: 2, Brush shop - pitch set brooms being made by blind workers C2-664: Basket shop - some of the various types of baskets made C2-654: Snowy Willis. Brush shop - a semi automatic brush stock boring machine in operation. C2-666: Matting shop - one of the ten coir matting looms in use. 1960. C2-659: Matting shop - bobbin winder and bobbin bank. C2-655: 15. 2 col wide. Bed shop wadding a fibre mattress. Also showing special sewing machine and movable table used in sewing the mouths of filled mattresses.queensland industrial institute for the blind, stuart jewell, jack dollier, snowy willis, roy anderson, ellen mcdevitt

Interior of the Brush shop at Queensland Industrial Institute for the Blind. Various workers construct and pack brooms ready for sale. Image 2 - Interior of brush shop taken around 1967. Ernie Hayes (right foreground), Fred Makin, Dudley Lewis (wearing hat), and facing camera Greg Short (left) and Ron Caudery. 4 x B/W photographs of men in the brush workshopC2-6840, C26838, C2-6839, C2-6841queensland industrial institute for the blind, employment, ernie hayes, fred makin, dudley lewis, greg short, ron caudery

A QIIB employee holds freshly made millet brooms, whilst production workers Danny McCartney (left) and Sean Kean take out bundles of bleached millet to the broom shop.2 x B/W photographs of men with millet stalks and broomsL2-1136, L4 1136queensland industrial institute for the blind, danny mccartney, sean kean

Three Queensland Industrial Institute for the Blind workers holding raw millet (name unknown), millet brooms (possibly Snowy Willis) and working a loom (Manix O'Reagan).3 x B/W photographs of people with millet or weavingE18302-2622 F26922-1564 E18300-2622queensland industrial institute for the blind, manix o'reagan, snowy willis, employment

QIIB worker Manix O'Reagan demonstrating a matting loom.1 x B/W photograph of man operating a loom10. C7146 Manix O'Reagan (bdod)queensland industrial institute for the blind, manix o'reagan, employment

Two workers operating mat making machines, with their respective guide dogs: George Stibbs (wearing overalls and shirt) with Rex, and Arthur Bridges (white singlet and overalls) and his dog.3 x B/W photographs of workers with guide dogsC2-5059 C2-5058 C2-5061, Arthur Bridgesqueensland industrial institute for the blind, george stibbs, arthur bridges, employment

Alf Crossthwaite, worker at Queensland Industrial Institute for the Blind, holds a tower of waste paper baskets outside the workshop.1 x B/W photograph of man holding cane basketsF37828, Blind Institute, 8.5.1961, Alf Crossthwaite makes WPB at Blind institute.queensland industrial institute for the blind, alf crossthwaite, employment

Women production workers at Queensland Industrial Institute for the Blind. 1 - Daphne Lawson, Eileen Henry, Barbara Harding and Rosemary Davis at their respective workstations making toilet brushes or caning chair. 2 - Another view of the room. Barbara Harding and Rosemary Davis sit making toilet brushes, whilst Daphne Lawson and Eileen Henry stand to make cane chairs.2 x B/W photographs of four women in workshopC2-6330, C2-6329queensland industrial institute for the blind, daphne lawson, eileen henry, barbara harding, rosemary davis, employment

An unknown QIIB worker using a brush making machine.1 x B/W photograph of man using machine that puts bristles into broom headsqueensland industrial institute for the blind, employment

Throughout the 1970's until the 1990's, Mitchell Manufacturing produced a popular range of bicycles for the general public and hiring companies alike. The Lighthouse bicycle was first developed, then superceded by the Mitchell bicycle. Using a combination of overseas sourced materials, these were assembled in the Royal Blind Society of NSW's headquarters in Enfield, and provided employment to range of blind and vision impaired workers. In one image, Neville Wran and Maj General Paul Cullen toast to the success of the company.16 B/W electronic images of bicyclesroyal blind society of new south wales, mitchell manufacturing, neville wran, paul cullen

This cricket ball is made of cane wicker and was used in cricket games with visually impaired players by people who lived or were educated at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind from the 1920's through till 1972. It is a circular shape made of plaited strips of woven natural cane and is lighter than a conventional cricket ball. The hollow center of the ball contains pieces of twisted metal pieces which rattle as the ball is moved to aid players in tracking the ball's movement. The stumps also had bells attached so fielders knew when the batsman was out. Blind cricket was invented in Melbourne in 1922 when two blind factory workers started playing a game using a tin can containing rocks. The game soon gained popularity and the Victorian Blind Cricketers' Association was formed. Mr William Paterson, a volunteer worker and advocate for blind people for over 60 years, was instrumental in acquiring and developing the sports ground and clubhouse in Glenferrie Road Kooyong, Victoria on behalf of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind (now called Vision Australia). In 1928 play began on the world's first sports ground for blind cricketers, in the first official blind cricket match. Blind cricket is now played internationally. This particular cricket ball was awarded to William Paterson Esq in 1928 in recognition of his support in establishing the world's first blind cricket ground in Kooyong. On the front of this ball is attached a small metal crest with an inscription: 'Presented to W.H. Paterson, Esq as a token of esteem for his interest in Blind cricket being the first ball bowled on the cricket ground for Blind Kooyong 7. 4.28'.1 wicker cricket ball with metal shield attached and metal bells in the hollow centre'Presented to W.H. Paterson, Esq / as a token of esteem for his/ interest in Blind cricket/ being the first ball bowled /on the cricket /ground for Blind /Kooyong / 7. 4.28'. recreation equipment, awards

In this scanned image used in the 1888 and 1889 RVIB annual reports, the RVIB Brass Band holds their instruments at the ready. This 12 piece band was made up of blind students and workers, and had two drummers holding the beat for 10 brass instruments. The Brass Band stands outside the front doors of what was then the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind building at St Kilda Road.B/W scanned image of the Brass Band of the RVIBrvib orchestra, fundraising

In this undated image, a group of approximately 26 people (mostly female) sit or stand in front of the RVIB building in St Kilda Road. Dressed uniformly but in a variety of poses and expressions, the group pose for the photographer.Lantern slide of a group of blind workersroyal victorian institute for the blind, employment

On September 23, 1925 the State Goverment gazetted a transfer of land in Raleigh Street, Prahran to RVIB. This was used to establish a hostel for women apprentices and workers, and building commenced in 1926 and was completed in 1927, at a cost of 3500 pounds. Demand for accommodation was strong and in 1929 a hostel for men was completed. The building were used as hostels for many years, but as demand decreased, the Institution found other ways to utilise the buildings. In 1972, a plant nursery was established on the site and other departments temporarily used the site. In 1994 the Employment Services team moved out of the building and the site was sold to developers.17 col. images of the partially demolished house at Raleigh Street, Prahranroyal victorian institute for the blind, raleigh street hostel

RVIB brushware was a source of income and some items were packaged under the name 'Blindcraft' to indicate their origin. In this collection the journey of the millet through its storage, selection, binding and attachment to other sections to make brooms and brushes.7 B/W images of workers making brushesroyal victorian institute for the blind, employment

Over 1962-63, plans were drawn up for the conversion of the main building into administrative offices and a rehabilitation centre. As the children were now located at the school in Burwood, and with funds achieved from the sale of the old factory buildings to the Alfred Hospital, the St Kilda Road building could expand room for its office workers and provide greater floor space to rehabilitation staff. These plans show the proposed conversion from bedrooms to administrative and rehabilitation areas.7 architectural plans and 1 letterJohn F D Scarborough and Partners, Architectsroyal victorian institute for the blind, plans