Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

A woman sits in a lounge chair and rests a binder folder with paper on her lap. She holds a pen and appears to be writing as she listens. Her headphones are connected to a portable reel player, which sits on a table beside her, and on top of this are reel boxes with braille labels.Digital image of woman listening to an audio bookroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

A young man sits in front of bookshelves of labelled black folders and listens to headphones as he types.Digital image of a male listening and typing on a typewriterroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

Two people are walking in the front garden of RVIB. The man holds a white cane in front of him, whilst the woman raises her arm as she helps advise in use of the cane.Digital image of a male using a white cane with a woman along side to assistroyal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

This cut-glass vase was presented to the Donald Auxiliary in recognition of their 60th Anniversary. It has lattice style cut glass around the body of the vase and 'shell' cuts around the neck and top. Just below the neck is engraved: Presented to Donald Auxiliary 60th Anniversary 1989. Many auxiliaries received vases such as this, however only one has been retained for representation.1 cut glass vase with inscription upon bulb of basePresented to RVIB Donald Auxiliary 60th Anniversary 1989royal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries, awards

To help raise funds for both the Austin Hospital and RVIB, hotels competed to raise funds, with recognition given to those who raised the most. In 1952, this trophy was presented to the Duke of Albany Hotel for its fundraising efforts. It is inscribed: Blind Institute Trophy won by Duke of Albany Hotel, Abbotsford 3KZ Christmas Day Appeal 1952.Tarnished silver trophy on bakelite pedestalBlind Institute Trophy won by Duke of Albany Hotel, Abbotsford 3KZ Christmas Day Appeal 1952royal victorian institute for the blind, fundraising, carols by candlelight

Logos produced for the 2001 RVIB Carols by Candlelight, in a variety of formats and colours.52 files of Carols by Candlelight logos in a variety of formatscarols by candlelight, royal victorian institute for the blind

Pictures taken at RVIB Burwood School of unidentified students, teachers and objects.52 files of Carols by Candlelight logos in a variety of formatsroyal victorian institute for the blind, rvib burwood school, children

An older girl sits on a garden bench surrounded by younger girls, as she reads from a Braille book. Believed to be Tilly Aston, this image demonstrates the power of story, regardless of it's medium, as well as the work of the RVIB School in educating children, and was often reproduced.High quality image of Braille reader in gardenroyal victorian institute for the blind, tilly aston

In 1868, with the laying of the foundation stone, a time capsule was placed containing four newspapers of the day (Saturday 25 January, 1868 - The Age, The Argus, The Sun and The Telegraph: St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian), the first Annual report of the Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind (1867), 11 coins from the Victorian regency and an illustration of the proposed building at St Kilda Road. An undated note also describes a piece of parchment in the time capsule, which contained a list of names of committee members and relevant people involved in the construction of the building, such as Crouch & Wilson; however no image of this has been located. In 1991, this time capsule was opened as part of 125 year celebrations and the contents were put on display. The capsule was the size of a house brick and buried underneath the foundation stone. It was made of metal and had to be sawn open to reveal the contents. These images are of the items found inside the time capsule. Additionally there are low res images of these items plus some photographs taken on the day: Brian Howe, Minister for Health, holds the time capsule whilst Trent Willard and Janice Johns, current RVIB students, stand by during the raising ceremony; Miss Molly Miller, the oldest surviving student, and Mr Percy Raufer, great grand nephew of Mary-Ann Raufer who was pupil number 6 and enrolled in the school in January 29th, 1866 look at the items found in the time capsule. In 2005 a new time capsule was buried, including an electronic copy of the 1867 report and drawing of St Kilda Road from the 1868 time capsule.Photographs and scans of items found inside the time capsuleroyal victorian institute for the blind, brian howe, trent willard, janice johns, molly miller, percy raufer, time capsule

Workers unloading bags of chicken pellets in Solomon's Lane. This lane was supposedly named after Aaron Solomon, who ran up and down it constantly for exercise.1 B/W photograph of men unloading a truckroyal victorian institute for the blind, employment

On Wednesday 23rd February 2005, after a two year project of research and interviews with pupils, workers and staff, 'The Lighthouse on the Boulevard' (a history of the RVIB) was launched. MC Michael Walsh introduces Vision Australia CEO Gerard Menses, author Dr Judith Buckrich, participants Reuben Ryan, Steven Herd, David Blyth and Deputy Mayor of Melbourne Gary Singer who spoke at the launch. Afterwards books were signed and the crowds mingled.Sunday Special radio program on the launch of 'Lighthouse on the Boulevard'royal victorian institute for the blind, michael walsh, gerard menses, judith buckrich, reuben ryan, steven herd, david blyth, gary singer, dorothy hamilton, michele prentice, don draffin

Photo of Tilly Aston as a young girl of 16 sitting in a chair with a handbag in her lap. She wears a high necked dress and her hair is pulled back behind her in a ponytail. Image has been produced in a sepia and black and white. Black and white copy has 'about 1920' on back, however this date is incorrect as Tilly would have been almost 50 that year.1 photograph in various tones of Tilly Aston aged 16tilly aston, royal victorian institute for the blind

Four girls surround an older girl, who is reading Braille on a park bench. Believed to be Tilly Aston, the older girl has her hair in plaits and appears to be concentrated on the Braille pages in front of her. At the end of the park bench rests a man's hat and another book of Braille. This image has been reproduced widely and in a variety of black and white or sepia tones. Possibly a publicity image used by the RVIB. On one copy, there is a note that image was made around 1918, based upon clothing, which would rule out Tilly Aston who would have been in her late 40s around then.B/W photograph of girl sitting on park bench reading Braille surrounded by four other girlstilly aston, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. On May 22, 2007 Sigrid Thornton visited the Feelix library at the RVIB Burwood School for a special story time with Kate, William, Seth, Claudia, Amelia, Liam, Dominic, Anna and others.66 digital images of Sigrid Thornton's visit to the Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, rvib burwood school, sigrid thornton, trish anderson, robyn sainsbury-vale

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. On August 22, 2007 Feelix staff organised an activity to supplement the book "We're going on a bear hunt" by Michael Rosen. First the book was read, then the young children (and their parents) replicated the actions of the book's characters in their search for a Bear who followed them home for morning tea. Later that day, Burwood School children also joined in on their own Bear Hunt.70 digital images of staff and children during the Bear Huntroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, rvib burwood school, louise curtin, ed gamble

Pictures taken at RVIB Burwood School of staff members for their badge identification.47 digital images of staff at RVIB Burwood, including 1 low resroyal victorian institute for the blind, rvib burwood school, sue coull, garry stinchcombe, sandie mackevicius, ulli pfisterer, rachel grealy