Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Explore the growing digital archive of deaf history in Australia

Archive

Artefacts
Arts and Culture
Deaf Places
Groups and Organisations
Institutions and the State
Language
People
Sport

Active filters:

Story
John Carmichael

One of the first European deaf people who came to Australia in the early 19th century was John Carmichael. He

See more

Story

Story
Colin Lee Fairweather

There have been several examples of deaf people who have worked

See more

Story

Story
Deaf Writers’ Group

Karen Lloyd describes the beginnings of the Deaf Writers Group in Sydney.

See more

Story

Story
The Tasmanian Silent Gazette

In 1930, the Tasmanian Society for the Blind and the Deaf began publishing a newsletter for the Tasmanian Deaf community.

See more

Story

Story
Deaf Performance

Guest curator Caroline Conlon explains the role of performance in Deaf communities, and how different types of performance have evolved

See more

Story

Etching of Sydney

Etching by John Carmichael.

See more

Artefact

Why Deaf People Must Write

A plea for deaf people to write and so to speak for themselves and make their own decisions.

See more

Artefact

The Silent Messenger Jul 1971

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger June 1964
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger January 1969
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger May 1971
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger December 1975
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1909 Sept Vol.2 No.3
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1911 Sept-Oct Vol.4 No.5
See more

Artefact

Sound Off, Issue No. 1

The Deaf Writers’ Group’s first publication

See more

Artefact

Irrawang vineyard and pottery, East Australia 1838

Bill head by John Carmichael, 1838

See more

Artefact

The Silent Messenger Aug 1972

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger January 1963
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger July 1964
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger February 1969
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger September 1971
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger March 1984
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1909 Oct Vol.2 No.4
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1911 Nov-Dec Vol.4 No.6
See more

Artefact

Mock Wedding Play

Early Deaf Theatre

See more

Artefact

Bay whaling off the Boyd Town light house, Twofold Bay, N.S.W, 1848

Etching by John Carmichael, 1848

See more

Artefact

The Silent Messenger Feb 1972

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger February 1963
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger August 1964
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger March 1969
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger March 1972
See more

Artefact

The Deaf Advocate December 1930
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1909 Nov Vol.2 No.5
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1912 Jan-Feb Vol.5 No.1
See more

Artefact

Souvenir Programme of the Jubilee of ADDS Victoria

Souvenir Programme of the Jubilee of ADDS Victoria

See more

Artefact

Sydney from the North Shore 1851

Etching by John Carmichael, 1851

See more

Artefact

The Silent Messenger Mar 1973

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger March 1963
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger September 1964
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger May 1969
See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger May 1972
See more

Artefact

The Deaf Advocate January 1931
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1909 Dec Vol.2 No.6
See more

Artefact

NSW Deaf Journal 1912 Mar-Apr Vol.5 No.2
See more

Artefact

Official Programme of the ADDSV Great Carnival

ADDSV Official Programme of the Great Carnival

See more

Artefact

“King of black Native” 1826

Watercolour portrait by John Carmichael, 1826

See more

Artefact

The Silent Messenger Oct 1973

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

See more

Artefact

Silent Messenger April 1963
See more

Artefact

Welcome to the Deaf History Collections

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors to our site, recognising the long, rich, complex and unjustly disregarded histories of First Nations peoples in Australia.
Continue to the website

Feedback

If you have feedback, information to add, or see an error that needs to be fixed on this page, use this form. There are two ways: write a message or send us a video message.
Close Button