Search our collections
Discover the Deaf History Collections by category, item, or topic. Whether you’re interested in education, community, arts, advocacy, or daily life, it’s easy to find the stories and items that interest you most.
Explore our stories
When we have a variety of records about a topic, we combine them into ‘stories’ where a curator gives an overview of the artefacts in Auslan.
An Early Attempt to Establish a Deaf Association
Deaf Jurors
The Mystery of Michael Corran
The Mystery of John Fitzgerald’s Grave
John Fitzgerald appeared at the Old Bailey in London in September 1818, accused of “feloniously assaulting” a man in company with two others, and stealing from him a watch, three seals and a key.
John Fitzgerald, Deaf Convict
Auslan
Explore the long and rich history of Auslan from its beginnings in British Sign Language to the vibrant language we enjoy today.
Follow the twists and turns its story has taken since deaf people first left Britain for the colonies of Australia, through the many influences it has absorbed, and the many attempts at reform, control and standardisation it has survived.
Classroom Resources for Inspired Learning
Looking for ready-to-use activities and lesson plans? We’ve designed fun and engaging activities and learning sequences using artefacts from our collection.
All resources, including handouts, are free to download. Different subjects and year levels are covered, and everything follows the Australian Curriculum
Start exploring resources below.
Visual Arts / Auslan Year 1/2: A Day in the Life of a School
Students view and discuss two images from the Victorian and South Australian deaf schools to gain information about a school at a particular time. They then create a similar art work based on their own school and present their work to the class, describing what they like about it.
English Year 10: Language for Empowerment
Students analyse a ‘manifesto’ about the value of writing for a minority group – deaf people – to identify the author’s strategies for appealing to shared cultural knowledge, values and beliefs, and the experience of marginalization. Students then analyse 2-3 historical texts for examples of language that includes or marginalizes deaf people.
Visual Arts / Auslan Year 3/4: A Day in the Life of a School
Students view and discuss two images ‘A Visit to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, St. Kilda Road’ and ‘South Australian Institution Collage’ to gain information about a school at a particular time. They then create a similar art work based on their own school and arrange their work in a display to present to others.
