After years of precursory surveying, debate and proposals the most ambitious civil engineering project of the day, the Overland Telegraph Line, began construction in September 1870. Superintendent of Telegraphs, Sir Charles Todd led the construction through “terra incognita,” guided by the precursory surveys of John McDowall Stuart and technologies such as his prismatic surveying compass. The unknown and hostile landscape claimed the lives of several men and scores of transport animals in the dogged pursuit of telegraphic connection to the rest of the world. Completed in August 1872, the Line connected Australia to the world via telegraph wires running 3,200 kilometres from Port Augusta in South Australia, to Darwin, then connecting via submarine cable to Java and beyond. The “earth [had been] girdled with a magic chain” according to the then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson. How does it work? For use in surveying, the sight vane and prism are turned up on their hinge and the instrument is held horizontally either in the palm of one's hand or on a tripod. Two small discs of red and green glass attached to the prism can be flipped down over the sight line to reduce glare. The objective is to bring the subject into the sightline created by the prism, aligning with the thread of the sight-vane until the subject is bisected evenly. Once aligned, the division on the card may be read through the prism. This reading provides the magnetic azimuth, used for calculating the bearings of distant landmarks. Circular instrument mounted in a brass case with glass window and brass lid. The compass card face four black compass points printed on mint green paper; on the underside the magnetic needle would be affixed, all held in place by a brass knob at the centre. The arched labels of "Sawtell" and "Adelaide" and the Prince of Wales feathers appear to have been affixed with adhesive which has since yellowed in the areas of application on the compass card. The compass face is printed with numbers, every 10 degrees from 10 - 360, printed in reverse indicating this compass would have once held a mirror at the sighting bracket. On one side of the brass case is a brass hinged sighting-prism, possibly of ebonite. The sighting-prism is mounted in a hinged brass bracket on one edge of the brass case. It has two flip-type filter glasses (red and green) and folds down into a retracted travelling position. A hinged brass bracket on the opposite edge would have held the sighting bracket - carrying the sighting vane and mirror - which is now missing or removed. Under the hinge is a lever, possibly related to the movement of the bracket. Underneath the brass case is an indented circle with screw threads, possibly for attachment to a tripod, and indistinguishable marks scratched into the surface.Etched on to the centre of the lid, "Sawtell ADELAIDE / No 792." Affixed to the paper compass face, possibly from separate pieces of paper, "SAWTELL / ADELAIDE" with the Prince of Wales Feathers above "SAWTELL". Underneath on remains of white tape in red: "159."surveying, compass, charles todd, overland telegraph line, telegraph

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 2 Austral Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1991, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.2 AUSTRAL ST., SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN - 91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, 1950, austral street

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.11 AGNES ST., SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~ BALWYNarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, agnes street, californian bungalow

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.37 ALBANY CRES, SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN -91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, albany crescent, 1980

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.37 ALBANY CRES, SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN -91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, albany crescent, 1980

Articles in the annual report include: the opening of the new building at Burwood (Enfield) and the facilities it provides, including a bowling green, swimming pool and rooms for specialist areas such as orientation and mobility and music braille; the need for the new building, publication of a booklet 'The Pre-School Child who is blind', the development of rehabilitation services for those who are unable to visit the new site and the introduction of Mark IV talking book machines.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Black and white photograph showing a young child, approximately six years old, using a Perkins Brailler. Possibly taken at the RVIB's Burwood School, where the Perkins Brailler was introduced in 1963.1 black and white photograph of boy using a Perkinsrvib burwood school, braille equipment

10 students read at their desks in the classroom. Braille maps are on the walls and their are miniature wooden tanks, airplanes and a building on top of the cupboard. The walls are wood panelled to halfway up, then glassed.1 black and white photograph of 10 pupils in the school roomrvib burwood school, education

"RVIB is grateful for Mrs Janet Conn for her generous support of our work with children who are blind or vision impaired. Mrs Conn's donation was made in loving memory of her late husband, Mr Charles Conn. June 1999." Beneath this script is the Braille text of the above. Digital image of plaque with writing and BrailleRVIB is grateful for Mrs Janet Conn for her generous support of our work with children who are blind or vision impaired. Mrs Conn's donation was made in loving memory of her late husband, Mr Charles Conn. June 1999.royal victorian institute for the blind, janet conn, rvib burwood school

A smiling school girl plays a piano, whilst reading the music with a high magnification pair of glasses.Digital image of girl playing piano with glassesrvib burwood school, education

A young blond haired child in overalls moves carefully down a staircase and at the top/base of the stairs.Digital image of a young boy in overallsrvib burwood school, occupational therapy

A schoolboy sits at a table, with a tin of cut plastic straws in front of him as he threads them on to a plastic cord. This activity is used by many teachers to enhance fine motor development.1 black and white image of a boy threading itemsrvib burwood school, education

Rectangular wooden column with wooden wings either side, set on a wooden base. At the top of the column is a golden wreath sitting on a golden bell, and inside the wreath two hands are clasped in silver. The front of the column has golden coloured plate with the winners inscribed: 1967 Brabham, 1968 Clarke, 1969 Brabham, 1970 Clarke, 1971 Clarke, 1972 Brabham. On the base, is another golden coloured plate with 'Annual Physical Education Award' inscribed.Wooden award with gold coloured plates and two hands clasped amongst laurels at toprvib burwood school, brabham, clarke, awards

To help children learn water safety as well as be able to provide physical therapy through water exercises, a swimming pool was opened at the Burwood School. Running a heated indoor pool required the installation of a solar hot water system, which was opened by Victorian MP David White in 1985.Brown plaque with gold coloured writing and Braille tapeThis swimming pool is heated by the sun (also in braille) The solar heating system was opened by The Hon. David White, MLC., Minister for Minerals and Energy February 15, 1985rvib burwood school, david white

NAB Volunteers helping to create the sensory garden at the Vision Australia Education Centre on March 23, 2007.rvib burwood school, volunteers

On the 21st June 2008 Vision Australia hosted a farewell celebration at 557 St Kilda Road for people who attended the RVIB School and Residential Rehabilitation and Training Centre. This CD has been produced as a memento of this occasion. CD1 contains the official proceedings of the day. CD2 contains a compilation of interviews and memories that people shared on the day.21 sound files of official proceedings and interviewsroyal victorian institute for the blind, burwood school, employment

From its beginning in 1866, the Victorian Asylum for the Blind (later called the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind) has been a prominent resident in St Kilda Road. Intended to provide work and education, the RVIB has adapted and changed according to the staff and people who passed through, lived, laughed, learned and languished in it, as well as societal expectations. In this history of the building, its services and personalities, up until the closure of St Kilda Road.284 pages without illustrations in etext filenon-fictionroyal victorian institute for the blind, rvib burwood school

Based upon the story of 'The Three Little Pigs', children were invited to hear the story and see (and knock down) the house made of straw, the house made of wood and the house made of bricks, before heading back for snacks. As part of the day, a petting zoo with barnyard animals also allowed the opportunity to investigate other animals.107 digital images of attendees at the Book Week celebrationvision australia, feelix, ed gamble, ella edwards, noah o'brien, dominic kennedy, matthew johnson, tommy papoutsidis, louise curtin

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: acknowledgement of the passing of Dr Trevor Anderson (President) during the year, merge of organisations, equipment upgrade at Burwood School and transition of early education program out to Southern and Eastern offices and publication of "Little Steps to Learning" and 'Thanks Mate I'll Try That'.1 printed volume of information about the RVIB during the financial yearroyal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, trevor anderson, doug kent

In March 1985, Merle Reid past away. She had worked for RVIB at Burwood since 1963, first as a cleaner but later as a laundry supervisor and childcare assistant. Encouraged by Matron Dunnell, she began her teacher qualifications and went on to become a teacher at the school. With her positive outlook, she became a firm favourite with children and staff alike, and to honour her impact, a proposal was made for a new outdoor playground was made bearing her name.Album of images and text as a tribute to Merle Reidrvib burwood school, merle reid

Oral history recording and transcript of interview of Margaret Fialides by Alan Nuske. Recorded as part of 'The Years Between: an oral history of the RVIB 1866-1991'. Staff recall how they came to be involved with the organisation and changes made during their tenure.1 oral history interview with Margaret Fialidesroyal victorian institute for the blind, allan nuske, margaret fialides, 3rph radio station, library, burwood school, oral history

Burwood School children undertook reading in various ways, such as Braille, and using aids such as additional lighting and a reading platform. In this example, a boy reads Braille whilst a girl is assisted by a teacher to read from her book. In the background are three posters displaying the wildflowers, environment and another aspect of Australian studies.burwood school, education, braille

A young boy, dressed in blue top and trackpants, sits on the floor with his teacher. Whilst he touches the rug, she holds his chin in one hand and has the other, as if lifted off his shoulder. The teacher is possibly dressed in a black exercise outfit, and may have been undertaking physical therapy with him.1 digital image of a female sitting on the floor with a young boyrvib burwood school, occupational therapy