The AFB were aware that accommodation options for blind people were limited and sought to open a hostel to assist with this.The first hostel opened in Lara Street, South Yarra but could not meet demand. In 1926, a suitable property 'Egremont' at 54 The Avenue, Windsor, came on the market. The price was £2650. Lack of funds to purchase seemed an insurmountable barrier. With assistance from the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate and the Felton Bequest a deposit of £650 was raised. In a huge step of faith the Committee took out a mortgage of £2000. The interest on the mortgage and its repayments weighed heavily on the Committee. The Avenue, as 'Egremont' was commonly termed, was also a seven roomed house. Mr Paterson and the Architect, Mr Parkes of Oakley and Parkes, immediately began planning an extension, fourteen single bedrooms were added. They were filled from the Waiting List. A Windsor Auxiliary was formed and worked to reduce the mortgage of £2000. An active programme of dances, card evenings, theatre nights and the like took place under the leadership of Mrs. Robertson. The Auxiliary also took an interest in the boarders, arranging entertainment and social activity. £1500. was still owed in 1930. Living side by side is no easy task for a group of people, and the Hostel meeting minute books are filled with stories of disputes over wireless sets, telephones, hot water bottles and wardrobes. In 1958, with rising costs and the growth of aged care centres, the Hostel was closed and the house sold to a succession of private buyers. In 2016 it still stands and has been refurbished as a guest house.B/W copy of newspaper photographThe hostel for blind women at 54 The Avenue, Windsor was established in 1926 to provide a place where sightless women may live together to their mutual advantage under proper and sympathetic supervision. The Windsor Hostel was sold in 1958. This building still stands today and has been refurbished.egremont, blind womens hostel, tilly aston

Tilly Aston moved to 42 Raleigh Street in 1913, after her mother had died and her brother married. She died there of cancer on 1 November 1947 and was buried in St Kilda cemetery; her estate was valued for probate at £1149. Her headstone is inscribed: headstone ‘Tilly Aston, Blind Poetess and Philanthropist, Died 1st Nov 1947, Aged 74, Resurgam.’2 x col. photographs of grave and headstonetilly aston, association for the blind

A group of ladies sit around a table, rubbing make up products into their face. One lady, in the foreground, is receiving a facial massage.1 B/W photograph of woman sitting and rubbing lotion on their faces12 A recreation - William Streetroyal blind society of new south wales, recreation

An ultrasonic torch sends out a high frequency beam that bounces off items in it's path and sends back signals to an ear piece worn by the user. A change in sound indicates the nearness of an object, and it was (at the time) thought to be a possible replacement for white canes in the future. In this image, a man descends steps at the William Street building of RBS, using the torch to guide him.B/W photograph of man using torch6/68049 Ultrasonic torch being used at the Royal Blind Society.royal blind society of new south wales, orientation and mobility

Two men stand on a stage, one holding a key wallet out in front of him, and the other with a pair of comic glasses and a hearing aid who appears to be talking to the man behind him. This image was possibly taken from a play performed by staff in the 1970s.B/W photograph of two man performing a sketchA106E5 Mobility - currentroyal blind society of nsw, mitchell street theatre

View from St Kilda Road of driveway to newly completed RVIB building. Believed to be taken around opening in 1868, there are no trees visible except for one on the side road (Moubray Street).royal victorian institute for the blind, buildings

Articles in the annual report include: death of General Manager Ian Burnet, expenditure exceeding income, need to sell Woolahra (Helen Keller hostel) property, goal of opening 20 new Day centres by the end of 1975, plans to establish Occupational Therapy Training unit, review of aging hostels and restructure workshop, growth of Mitchell Street Theatre, increase of children with more than sight loss at nursery, decision to establish reading competition in memorial to Barbara Rutherford and awarding of Churchill Fellowship to Joan Ledermann for a review of Braille production units overseas.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: the reduced subsidies provided by government and the increased need for public support, success of family counselling and support programs have reduced numbers at nursery and kindergarten, plans for Low Vision Clinic, reconditioning and assembly of bicycles in workshop, retirement of Matron Scott and Mrs McCallum (heads of Victor Maxwell nursery and Sandy Robertson kindergarten respectively), continued success of Mitchell Street Theatre, and all the NSW blind participants who attended the Toronto Olympiad won medals.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

President's overview of defamatory media and government investigation of the school, reopening of the hostel at 2 Derril Avenue, Malvern, difficulty in obtaining pups, difficulties in not being able to expand at Thanet Street site and inability to use the Dingley site as intended due to the proposed freeway, inability to fundraise due to bad publicity, court action against Herald-Sun journalists, discussion over cases where dogs were removed and profiles of some people and their dogs. 1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: the sadness of retiring dogs, opposition by the Hard Headed Group to the approved application for use of 12-12a and 18 Thanet Street as places of instruction, extra work required by an FOI application, lack of suitable puppies experienced, welcome back to Mrs Chandler, Michael Riley and Russell Wills, and farewell to Ralph Church and Margaret McDonald, closure of hostel at 384 Wattletree Road due to lack of ability to staff, life governorships awarded to Marianne and Brian Davenport, resignation of Sir Rammond Garrett and death of Hon. T.W. Mitchell, both Foundation Members. Articles on the Kurzweil Reading Machine, Queensland branch report, tribute to Tilly Aston, article from The Age on how Seeing Eye dogs have helped James Allerdyce and Ansett ANA worker Judith Barczak fundraising to pay for a dog.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: completion of reception room which joins 16 and 18 Thanet Street, thoughts on the success of the school, attendance at International Dog Guide Conference in London, over 27 years the school has trained over 800 dogs, deaths of Jack Franks and Thelma McKenniariey, assisted actor Robert Menzies portray a blind character in the movie 'Cactus', difficulties in running the hostel and day centre with few qualified people to fill vacancies for the former and lack of volunteer drivers for the latter, decision to close Cairns shop, resignation of Kevin O'Mahoney and difficulties in replacing him, long cane training in Queensland, demand for guest speakers, thank you to work experience students, welcome to Ray Owens, presentation of Anzac Award by Lt Governor at Government House, beginning of in-house breeding program - rather that rely on donations of suitable puppies - with Roz McNaught, Alf Krummel and Dawn Robinson providing and housing these dogs.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

The Guiding Light Square Dancer club taking part in a street parade in Winnipeg, Canada, as part of the Canadian National Square and Round Dance convention. Marching in the group: Alan Egerton is front left partnered by Ruth and Wanda Egerton is front right partnered by Shane. Steven, Jeff, Margaret Snyder and Peggy Sitlington.1 color photograph of people in square dancing outfits walking in a street paraderecreation, margaret fox, wanda egerton, alan egerton, guiding light square dance club

Official certificate showing that Elanora Home and Hospital for the Aged at 7 Mair Street, Brighton was an approved nursing home on 30 June 1999, with a bed capacity of 60.1 x A4 sized page with black writing and Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health logoelanora home (brighton), association for the blind

Founded in 1891, the Ellams Duplicator Company produced drum and flat duplicators that copied a stenciled sheet and allowed multiple copies to be made. Considered desk top, this rather heavy machine was operated by turning the handle and could turn out 100 copies a minute. This would have been useful for donation request letters or large print newsletters.1 black case holding a black drum and metal platesEllams Rotary Duplicator Self Feeding Ellams Duplicator Co Ltd 12 King Street London E.C. Alfred Street, Brisbane, Australiaoffice equipment, ellams

In recognition of the support from the Lions and Lioness Clubs, the Royal Blind Foundation of Queensland named a meeting room in their honour at the Kent Street offices.Digital image of plaque with Lions logo in cornerThe Lions Room So named on 20th March 1991 In recognition of the years of support by numerous Lions and Lioness Clubs in the State of Queensland and in appreciation of their collective effort in financing the refurbishment of our office facilities.royal blind foundation of queensland, nameplates

A metal street sign with a black background and white writing and a white pointing tip at the end, indicating which direction the Association for the Blind was located.Black and white road signAssociation for the Blind Centreassociation for the blind, nameplates

In recognition of the support from various Qld senate parties, the Royal Blind Foundation of Queensland named a meeting room in their honour at the Kent Street offices.Digital image of gold coloured plaque with brown writing"The Senatorial Suite" In a display of genuine unity, Queensland's 12 senators of four political persuasions contributed equally toward part of the cost of the 1990 restoration of our premises. This is, in all likelihood, the first occasion in our nations history of such a unified act of giving of this kind. This room was officially named "The Senatorial Suite" on 20 March 1991 by Qld's longest serving current senator, Senator Mal Coulson.royal blind foundation of queensland, nameplates

In recognition of the support from Ethel Sheil, the Royal Blind Foundation of Queensland named an area in her honour at the Kent Street offices.Digital image of brown plaqueEthel Sheil Unit In gratitude for her generous financial assistanceroyal blind foundation of queensland, nameplates

Illawarra was the name given to the Geelong office of the Association for the Blind. These physical photographs were unfortunately too damaged to be retained in the collection, so a digital image was taken. 1. 1977 - Unnamed people undertaking carpentry at Illawarra. 2. 1970 to1980's - The Illawarra building in Pakington Street, Newtown. 3. 1970 to 1980's - A seascape mural with raised sea animals and corals was presented by the Embroiders Guild for the benefit of AFB members. An unknown female is feeling the mural. 4. 1970 to 1980's - A fragrance garden at Illawarra completely maintained by the Geelong Pelargonium Society, enables AFB members to enjoy the plants by their distinctive perfumes of lemon, lime, nutmeg and peppermint. A female stands in front of a garden bed and smells a pelargonium leaf. 5. 1982 - To encourage independence from costly and impersonal health services, diabetics attend Illawarra to learn self-management of their condition at home. A dietitian speaks with diabetics on treatment. 6. 1976 - The Geelong office of the AFB at Illawarra.6 digital images of Illawarra and the people involved with itillawarra (geelong), association for the blind

Bill Holt, in wheelchair, and two other residents and staffer Wendy Campbell observe and dial a sundial amongst the garden beds. Crystal Street wears headphones as she listens to a 'Nostaglic Moments' tape. The cassette cover is handed to her by Jenny Johnson.2 b/w photographs of Mt Eliza residents1. Bill Holt, Wendy Campbell. 64% 2. Mrs Crystal Street, Jenny Johnson. 64%association for the blind, george vowell centre (mt eliza), bill holt, wendy campbell, crystal street, jenny johnson

Images taken around the Vision Australia Geelong office at 79 High Street, Belmont in 2008. Amongst the view of the foyer and walkway are the client artworks and banners sewn by volunteers.10 colour photographs taken around the Geelong officevision australia, geelong, volunteers

To celebrate White Cane Day in 2008, a group of cane users met at the Travellers Aid office at Flinders Street station, before walking down the escalators, along the platform and along the Yarra River and St Kilda Road at Southbank.98 digital images of people participating in the 2008 White Cane Day eventvision australia, white cane day, cath caddis, tracy wright, kylie gerson, nicola misso, di seybold, flinders street station

O&M advisor Malcolm Simpson works with an elderly female, as she uses her white cane along a residential street.Coloured photograph of bearded man walking beside an elderly female as she uses a white caneroyal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

Colour photograph taken of the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales building in Enfield, as viewed from Mitchell Street. The two storey building has a car park underneath, with a separate external car park in the front of the building and a sloping driveway and footpath up to the covered entrance. To the right of the driveway is a short term visitors park. Gum trees are planted amongst a well kept lawn. Image was taken around the later 1970s-mid 1980s. A "Royal Blind Society' sign points up the driveway.Digital Image of Enfield building taken from Mitchell Streetroyal blind society of new south wales, buildings

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

Black and white photograph of the Brighton branch for the Association for the Blind at 7 Mair Street, Brighton. Known as Elanora, it provided nursing home support for elderly people who were blind or had low vision. The building still stands in 2020, albeit with some facade changes and the addition of a covered area to the entrance that is set back from the street. 1 black and white image of Brighton branch of the AFB buildings, association for the blind

The Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School was founded at Wonga Park in April 1960. This plaque commemorates the official opening by Hon. T.W. Mitchell and reads: This plaque marks the opening of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School by the Hon. T.W. Mitchell M.L.A. on the 10th April 1960. Later that year, a property at 16 Thanet Street Malvern was purchased, and the school relocated to that site.This plaque marks the opening of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School by the Hon. T.W. Mitchell M.L.A. on the 10th April 1960nameplates, lady nell seeing eye dog school