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

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Deaf Writers’ Group

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

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Deaf Performance

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

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John Carmichael

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

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Sound Off, Issue No. 1

The Deaf Writers’ Group’s first publication

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Artefact

Irrawang vineyard and pottery, East Australia 1838

Bill head by John Carmichael, 1838

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The Silent Messenger Aug 1972

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

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Silent Messenger January 1963
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Silent Messenger July 1964
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Silent Messenger February 1969
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Silent Messenger September 1971
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Silent Messenger March 1984
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Mock Wedding Play

Early Deaf Theatre

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

Etching by John Carmichael, 1848

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Artefact

The Silent Messenger Feb 1972

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

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Silent Messenger February 1963
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Silent Messenger August 1964
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Silent Messenger March 1969
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Silent Messenger March 1972
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The Deaf Advocate December 1930
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Souvenir Programme of the Jubilee of ADDS Victoria

Souvenir Programme of the Jubilee of ADDS Victoria

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Artefact

Sydney from the North Shore 1851

Etching by John Carmichael, 1851

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The Silent Messenger Mar 1973

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

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Silent Messenger March 1963
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Silent Messenger September 1964
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Silent Messenger May 1969
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Silent Messenger May 1972
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The Deaf Advocate January 1931
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Official Programme of the ADDSV Great Carnival

ADDSV Official Programme of the Great Carnival

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“King of black Native” 1826

Watercolour portrait by John Carmichael, 1826

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The Silent Messenger Oct 1973

NSW Deaf Society Magazine

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Silent Messenger April 1963
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Silent Messenger December 1964
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Silent Messenger June 1969
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Silent Messenger June 1972
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Artefact

The Deaf Advocate [September] 1931
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Artefact

Statue Performance

Pariotism in living statue form

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Artefact

East Boyd NSW 1848

Etching by John Carmichael, 1848

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Artefact

Sound Off No.2 Dec 1987

Magazine of the Deaf Writers’ Group

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Silent Messenger May 1963
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Tapestry

This tapestry hung in the entryway of the 262 building from 1985 until it closed in 2014. Its creation was a community project – a group of 27 people (mostly deaf, with some hearing family and friends) in South Australia

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Silent Messenger October 1969
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Silent Messenger September 1972
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Female Performers Group

Female Performers Group

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A portrait of ‘The Old Commodore’, Billy Blue, ca. 1834

Etching by John Carmichael, ca. 1834

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Sound Off No.3 May 1988

Magazine of the Deaf Writers’ Group

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Silent Messenger June 1963
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Silent Messenger January 1966
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Silent Messenger Christmas 1970
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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.
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