Vision Australia Heritage Collection

454 Glenferrie Road, KOOYONG
Phone: Ph: (03) 8378 1161
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Vision Australia has provided blindness and low vision services since 1866. Prior to its merge in 2004 it was known as Royal Blind Society of NSW, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and Vision Australia Foundation. Since 2004 other organisations have also merged with Vision Australia: Royal Blind Foundation Queensland (2006), Hear a Book (Tas) (2007) and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (2008) The heritage collection is representative of all these organisations.

Vision Australia was pivotal in gaining the first voting rights, transport concessions and pension for Australians who are blind or have low vision and the world's first free postage of braille material. Vision Australia also founded the first schools, employment training and braille library for Australia's blindness community. The heritage collection represents much of this inspiring history. Vision Australia is a leading provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia.  We work in partnership with Australians who are blind or have low vision to help achieve the possibilities they choose in life. This is achieved by providing 15 core services in the areas of:

•       Enhancing access to information
•       Making the most of technology
•       Being part of the community.

Our Collection
The collection includes photographs, library equipment, film, audio recordings and objects.  Highlights on display at Kooyong are a rare and very unique printing press from the 1930s which revolutionised braille production and stunning stained glass windows of Louis Braille and British writers.