The rotunda was built in 1912 by Clarence Montgomery for the Surrey Hills Progress Association and the local community and dedicated to John Gray, "a highly respected and revered citizen". Surrey Hills Brass Band regularly gave concerts in the rotunda, provided music for regular 'loyal' celebrations and also for silent films held in the gardens. The rotunda was quite elevated off the ground due to the slope of the gardens and the bioscope was stored in the room underneath. This was later used as the infant welfare centre until the Progress Association built a dedicated facility for these purposes. The rotunda was demolished in 1972. Clarence Montgomery, carpenter, was living in Sunbury Crescent in 1914. By 1916 he had moved to 83 Croydon Road where he lived for the rest of his life. Clarence was born in 1869 in Taradale, son of John Montgomery and Jane Ford. He married Sarah Ann Ingram in Echuca in 1894. Their children were: 1. Annie (Mrs P Paynter) born Echuca in 1895 2. William Henry born Echuca in 1897 3. Christina Mary (Mrs F Meyers) born Echuca in 1898 4. Violet (Mrs G Ewing) born Echuca in 1902 5. Clarence George Ingram born Echuca in 1906 and died aged 7 months. Violet became a tailoress and Christina a dressmaker. William became a carpenter like his father. Sarah Ann Montgomery died at their home in June 1932 aged 62 years. Clarence died in August 1946 aged 77 years. They are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (P-EB-0020). John Gray was "actively associated with all movements for the benefit of neighbours and fellow citizens". [Quote from the official tribute on his death in 1909.] He was very active in the Surrey Hills Progress Association in the early 1900's. The rotunda built in the Surrey Gardens by the Progress Association in 1912 was dedicated to him. John Gray was born in 1861 in Eldorado. He died on 7 December 1909 in Surrey Hills and is buried in Box Hill Cemetery (M0472). He married Emma Beckett in 1888 at 'Guildford Villa' in Essex Road, the Beckett home. They are listed in both the 1903 and 1906 electoral rolls in Arundel Crescent; his occupation is given as bootmaker. The Alan Holt property register identifies this as 24 Arundel Crescent, known as 'Tumberumba'. John and Emma had a large family: (Gunner) John Robert Gray (1888, Surrey Hills - 21 June 1917, France) Benjamin Walter Gray (1890, Surrey Hills - 1949, Heidelberg) Herbert Harry Gray (1892, Surrey Hills - 1959, Queensland) William Beckett Gray (1897, Surrey Hills - 1899, Surrey Hills) Norman Douglas Gray (1901, Surrey Hills - 1947, Sydney) Evelyn Lizzie Gray (1906, Surrey Hills - 1983) Evelyn married Reginald Roberts and donated a number of photos to the collection. The donor Violet Ewing (nee Montgomery) was Clarence's daughter. She married George Isaac Henry Ewing (blacksmith) in 1934. They inherited the family home at 83 Croydon Road. Although constructed 5 years after their opening, this rotunda was a central feature of the Surrey Gardens which was planted to a design adapted from one suggested by the renowned landscape gardener and botanist William Robert Guilfoyle (1840-1912). Rotundas were a key feature of many late nineteenth and early twentieth century public parks. This particular rotunda was notable for the Chinoiserie influence reflected in its roof. Surrey Gardens are now regarded as one of the City of Boroondara's heritage gardens and this image is significant as evidence of the design of the rotunda which is no longer extant. It is also significant as evidence of the extent of the role of the Surrey Hills Progress Association in the provision of public facilities. A black and white photo of an octagonal rotunda situated within Surrey Gardens taken from the perspective of the main entrance. It is a largely wooden structure with a domed chinoiserie-style roof. The rotunda is enclosed by established gardens. There are 4 people in the photo, with 2 women standing on the steps at the rotunda's entrance. A man and a young person are seated within the rotunda. It has 8 support pillars, which are open with balustrades to 7 sides.rotundas, surrey gardens, union road, surrey hills progress association, surrey hills brass band, parks and reserves, 1925, john gray, clarence montgomery, box hill cemetery, cinema, john gray memorial rotunda, bandstands

This photo was taken in c1910. ‘Warlingham’ has many typical Victorian features and has been restored and extended. The first owner was Thomas Kennedy Vernon Coburn, a solicitor. His wife was Sara Ethelwyn (Winnie) Cornell; they married on 26 March 1890. They had a large family and their eldest son (Arthur Wheeler Coburn) was born at 'Wannacul' Surrey Hills on 11 January 1891. The Coburns seem to have moved often and Thomas was declared insolvent in 1894, in part it would seem as a result of the land crash. The next owner was George Lumsden, grocer who is believed to have been there 1892-1896. He was married to Emma Louise Sim. During the years c1913-1919 Mr William Joseph Trenerry (manufacturer) and his wife Elsie (nee Capon) lived here. In the 1919 electoral roll the house name is given as 'Mosman', which may be a reference to Elsie Trenerry's origins; she came from Sydney. See also SHP1927 and SHP1384. A black and white photograph of a Victorian style house with lacework around the verandah. There is a lady and young girl with plaits wearing her school uniform standing in front of the house. Two young boys are watching and are standing on the verandah.clothing and dress, warlingham, guildford road, surrey hills, house names, mr william joseph trenerry, mrs elsie trenerry, miss elsie capon, mr thomas coburn, mr thomas kennedy vernon coburn, mr arthur wheeler coburn, mrs sara ethelwyn coburn, mrs wynnie coburn, miss sara ethelwyn cornell, mr george lumsden, miss emma louise sim, mrs emma louise lumsden

The FJ Holden is iconic in Australian motoring history. It was made in Australia by Holden from 1953 to 1956. During the 1950s, Holden dominated the Australian car market and by 1958 sales accounted for over 40 per cent of total car sales in Australia. The Redex Reliability Trial 1953 -The first Redex round-Australia reliability trial covered of 6,500 miles (10,500 km), and had a first prize of £1,000. It attracted both amateur and professional drivers in a variety of cars. The route passed through Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Darwin, Alice Springs, Adelaide and Melbourne before returning to Sydney and attracted much public interest. At the time the idea of driving huge distances around the country in ordinary cars was novel and the logistics were challenging. In many parts of the country there simply wasn’t adequate accommodation or suitably located refuelling stops. The Shell Company facilitated the race by placing petrol dumps along the 5000 km route between Townsville and Adelaide. The race began at the Sydney Showground on 30 August when 192 cars left at three-minute intervals. Of the twenty top finalists, two thirds were sponsored. Ken Tubman and John Marshall won the trial in a Peugeot 203. A black & white photo taken from near 688 Whitehorse Road. It includes 2 FJ Holdens - one is probably a passing car; the other is covered with labels and can assume to be competing in the trial. On the far side of the road are onlookers of men, women and one child standing on a wide nature strip. One man is taking photos. The houses behind are obscured by high hedges, but appear to be Californian bungalows, one with a large palm tree in its front garden.redex reliability trial, 1953, fj holden, whitehorse road, mont albert

The Redex Reliability Trial 1953 -The first Redex round-Australia reliability trial covered of 6,500 miles (10,500 km), and had a first prize of £1,000. It attracted both amateur and professional drivers in a variety of cars. The route passed through Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Darwin, Alice Springs, Adelaide and Melbourne before returning to Sydney and attracted much public interest. At the time the idea of driving huge distances around the country in ordinary cars was novel and the logistics were challenging. In many parts of the country there simply wasn’t adequate accommodation or suitably located refuelling stops. The Shell Company facilitated the race by placing petrol dumps along the 5000 km route between Townsville and Adelaide. The race began at the Sydney Showground on 30 August when 192 cars left at three-minute intervals. Of the twenty top finalists, two thirds were sponsored. Ken Tubman and John Marshall won the trial in a Peugeot 203. A black & white photo taken in Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert during the 1953 Redex Trial as a Volkswagen is passing 688 Whitehorse Road on the extreme left. The VW appears to have advertising on its panels indicating it was a competitor in the trial. On the far side of the road is a Morris Minor with a hatted man sitting on the bonnet. The houses in the background are partly obcsured by large hedges.george coop, mont albert, volkswagen, morris minor, redex trial, whitehorse road

The Redex Reliability Trial 1953 -The first Redex round-Australia reliability trial covered of 6,500 miles (10,500 km), and had a first prize of £1,000. It attracted both amateur and professional drivers in a variety of cars. The route passed through Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Darwin, Alice Springs, Adelaide and Melbourne before returning to Sydney and attracted much public interest. At the time the idea of driving huge distances around the country in ordinary cars was novel and the logistics were challenging. In many parts of the country there simply wasn’t adequate accommodation or suitably located refuelling stops. The Shell Company facilitated the race by placing petrol dumps along the 5000 km route between Townsville and Adelaide. The race began at the Sydney Showground on 30 August when 192 cars left at three-minute intervals. Of the twenty top finalists, two thirds were sponsored. Ken Tubman and John Marshall won the trial in a Peugeot 203. However the Peugeot in this photo does not appear to be their car, judging by official photos of them with their vehicle, taken at the end of the trial. The Peugeot 203 was a popular car at the time and its reputation was enhanced after winning the trial. A black & white photo taken in Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert during the 1953 Redex Trial as a Peugeot 203 is passing 688 Whitehorse Road on the extreme left. The Peugeot 203 appears to have advertising on its panels indicating it was a competitor in the trial. On the far side of the road is a Morris Minor with a hatted man sitting on the bonnet, a woman standing close by and another man taking a photo of the passing cars. The houses in the background are partly obcsured by large hedges.george coop, mont albert, morris minor, redex trail, whitehorse road, peugeot 203

158 pages with illustrations on CDnon-fictionBrief history of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution, which later became the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales, under the leadership of Henry Hedger and Sir Paul Cullen.sydney industrial blind institution, royal blind society of nsw

Helen Keller speaks with an elderly blind man via signing. Believed to have been taken during Miss Keller's visit to Australia in 1948.High quality image of two people communicating by finger spellinghelen keller, sydney industrial blind institution

Acknowledgements were given for the receipt of volumes transcribed by volunteers. In this set of cards, Mrs Brangwin is acknowledged for multiple volumes of various books in the 1950s.White index card with pre-printed fields and spaces for handwritten itemsImage of Braille punch in top left hand corner in a circle. Braille Library William Street Sydney Dear ...... Thank you for Volume ...... of ................ This will be bound and added to the library of the Royal Blind Society of N.S.W. We are grateful for your continued interest in our work. Yours sincerely, President Braille Writers Association of N.S.W.iris brangwin, braille writers association of new south wales

Cast iron numberplate (white on black background) mounted on wood, with a braille and a written nameplate which reads: "Presented by the Victorian Railways Commission to the R.V.I.B. School for Blind Railway Club. This number plate came from steam locomotive class A2 number 932, which hauled the 'Sydney Limited', the 'Overland' and mainline passenger trains during its 48 years of service that ended in 1961." Cast iron numberplate on wood royal victorian institute for the blind, rvib school

Side view of a double-storey, sandstone builidng with lawn, most likely the original building designed by Edmund Blacket for the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution in Boomerang Street. The artist has signed and dated the right-hand corner and has written 'Deaf and Dumb'.Watercolour and goucache over pencil in gold frameM Jonesm jones, sydney industrial blind institution

Print of a painting inspired by the original drawing done by Adam Stephan c1890. A double story sandstone building with a bay window sits behind a metal fence. On the road, driver waits with his horse and buggy as a man and woman stand in the open door to the building. 1 art print in grey/gold frameartwork, sydney industrial blind institution

This tablet is in grateful appreciation of the generous exceptional assistance afforded the committee - The - Sydney Industrial Blind Institution - by the - Director of the Sun Newspaper in the Industrial "Blind Appeal" whereby a sum of over 18000 pounds was raised to carry on and extend the Institution's work for the amelioration of the blind.Gold coloured metal sheet with black writing mounted on woodsydney industrial blind institution, nameplates

Watercolour by Lin Ditchfield of the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales (formerly the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution) in William Street, Sydney. Built in 1880, the Edmund Blacket designed building was eventually sold in 1971. Located on the corner of William Street and Boomerang Place, the site was keenly sought by developers as the city landscape transformed into high rise office builidings, as evidenced in the background of this painting.1 water colour in beige frameLin Ditchfield 1971royal blind society of new south wales, lin ditchfield, artwork, buildings

This oil painting of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution (later Royal Blind Society of New South Wales) at William Street was painted by F.R. Fowler in 1976. It was inspired by an original drawing done by Adam Stephan c1890. The building was erected between 1876 and 1879 and was designed by Edmund Blacket. It was funded through a generous bequest by John William Wood. The Institution provided the first employment training in NSW for people who were blind or vision impaired.Oil painting in wooden frame with nameplate at baseThe Sydney Industrial Blind Institution 1879f.r. fowler, sydney industrial blind institution, artwork

Portraits of the 14 men who comprised of the Committee of Management for the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution. The largest photograph is of a bearded man writing at a desk (Rt Hon Sir Alfred Stephen PC GCMG CB President). Directly above him (in clockwise direction), J Dawson Hon Tresr, W. Beaumont, J W Hood, J F Weller, Thos Buckland, R L Tooth, A E Tooth, John J Keep. A second row extends below this (from left to right) E O Smith, A W Weeks, E Sinclair Hon Sec, Arthur Blacket, A Consett Stephen.1 framed mounting board with 14 sepia toned portraitssydney industrial blind institution, sir alfred stephen

MagazineOfficial Magazine of the Australian Memorialaustralian service nurses, remembering sandakan, hmas sydney: the verdict, lost on paradise road

On June 15, 2007 Vision Australia Radio (formerly 3RPH) celebrated its 25th anniversary of broadcasting. Despite earlier broadcasts on community radio stations, a dedicated radio service for people who wanted to listen to in depth information on news and current events as well as serialisation of books had not eventuated. With the support of Commonwealth funding in 1982, stations were permitted to transmit on marine band frequencies in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. With the eventual movement of major stations to FM in the 1980s, provision was finally granted for RPH stations to allow them to move to the AM band in metropolitan areas. In the 1990's regional stations were established, later linking to provide the Vision Australia Radio network. Throughout all of these changes, volunteers have supported the radio station in a range of ways, including collating and reading the newspaper articles for broadcast, helping source interviews and program ideas, operating studio equipment as well as presenting programs themselves.38 digital images of the 25th anniversary of VARvision australia, 3rph radio station, vision australia radio, gerard menses, stephen jolley, pam adams, lynne kells, tim evans, roberta ashby, marj west, norm richards, vince september, norm rees, graeme dawson

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: opening two new offices in Coffs Harbour and Canberra, merging library services with RVIB and VAF, development of the "Do It Yourself" package with the University of Sydney and launched by Benita Collings, Behind the Budget luncheon with H.G. Nelson, Wendy Harmer and Peter Berner, a tactile art exhibition with the Sydney's Object Gallery, building a new volunteer Speakers Network and profiles of volunteers Clarys Churchill and Ian Carswell, and clients Emily McNeil, Tess Herbert, Nelson Rufatt, Jonathan Mondy, Fiona Williams, James Pittar, Rita Lucas, Noni Guthrie, Alexandra Sugis and Elizabeth Ford.1 printed volume of information about the RBS during the financial yearroyal blind society of nsw, annual reports, lauren rapley, emily mcneil, graeme innes, pearl stapleton, dick smith, clarys churchill, tess herbert, benita collings, erica chiandotto, nelson rufatt, natalie kaine, jonathan mondy, annette hayes, fiona williams, james pittar, rita lucas, cem oztan, noni guthrie, alexandra sugis, elizabeth ford, paula-jane robinson, ian carswell, andrew daddo, wendy matthews, tayla fitten, dion milton, peter berner, wendy harmer, h.g. nelson, marie bashir, walter bolin, victoria maggs, katherine purcell, michael simpson, john landau, denis lister, carol ireland, stephanie peebles, barry chapman, christopher cullen, charles cowper, frank martin, ivan cribb, keith barton, michael brown, john mumford, owen van der wall, roslyn lambert, tony miller

Recording of La Fiamma for the Talking Newspaper Service in Sydney. 10 negatives of coloured images of narrator in studio and 1 printed proof sheetroyal blind society of nsw, talking newspaper service

A series of early twentieth century photographs were sourced and reprinted on to chipboard panels for use by the Royal Blind Society of NSW publicity department, to demonstrate the work and activities that blind people did at the Sydney Industrial Blind Institute (later RBS NSW, now Vision Australia). The source of these photographs is unattributed and the remaining panels of the set have not been located.Working Braille shorthand machine - Panel 11, Photo 13 A corner of the girls' sitting room - a lesson in Braille music (blind pupil and blind teacher) - Panel 1, Photo 2 The Industrial Blind Institution, Boomerang Street, Sydney. No.1 workshop, east side - basketmaking - Panel 2, Photo 3royal blind society of nsw, education, employment

Unsubstantiated photograph of the Asylum for the Blind in 1875. The four storey bluestone building rises above a group of trees planted in the garden. A picket and wire/string fence border the unpaved circular driveway. 2 black and white images of the Guiding Light at Elanora Blind Asylum School, St Kilda Road Victoria c. 1875 Charles Nettleton 1826-1902 Spencer Scott Sandilands 546 High Street, East Preson, 3181 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Tel: (03) 529 8011 Fax: (03) 521 1754 33 George Street, The Rocks, 2000 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tel: (02) 241 4251 Fax: (02) 2414535 Rare Prints, Antiquarian Books, Old Maps, Australiana, Antiques, Photographs, Framing c.1875 Charles Nettleton School from the Blind Original Photograph $65 Guaranteed over 100 years oldroyal victorian institute for the blind, buildings

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: the merger of three organisations into one national service, transition from CD and cassette services to digital via DAISY books, tactile hands on exhibition held at the Sydney Object Gallery, a new sensory playroom was developed in the Hunter region and 'Lighthouse on the Boulevard' was published.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementscorporation records, vision australia, gerard menses, kevin murfitt, owen van der wall, keith barton, david blyth, maryanne diamond, paul gleeson, timothy griffiths, graeme innes, mike janes, june ashmore, malcolm daubney, lynette davis, john coleman, marie bashir, don nardella, bruce mcallister, adam spencer, stephen jolley, geoff butcher, ebru sumaktus, krystal keller