Newcastle Museum

Deaf Sport, Deaf Community and Deaf Culture

Deaf Sports Australia welcomes your wonderful photos, videos, and stories about Deaf Sport, Deaf Community and Deaf Culture to share with the public.

A first ever national museum exhibition is now being hosted at the Newcastle Library from today until end of March 2024. This exhibition is part of the 2024 Australian Deaf Games program.

A collaboration between Deaf Sports Australia, Newcastle Libraries and Deaf Connect has created an opportunity to share the rich deaf history in sport, community, pioneer leaders, culture, language, deaf clubs and deaf stories.

The exhibition which is being hosted in the Lovett Gallery, includes stories about our Deaf Sport history, Deaf Pioneers, our Carnivals and Deaf Games, Deaf clubs, international involvement, displays of unique equipments and photos, and how the Australian Deaf community developed. QR codes are now available for Auslan translation for each display.

This project is being led by DSA General Manager Phil Harper and well-known historian Dr. Breda Carty from Deaf Connect has curated the exhibition along with the Museum curators and support from our principle Games Sponsor, Deaf Connect. Tony Clews, Melissa Anderson and Julian Walsh were also part of the exhibition team.

Schools, the public and community groups are invited to visit and learn about the history. There will be opportunities to have fun with hands-on learning.

Details of the exhibition venue:
Lovett Gallery
Level 2
Newcastle Library
15 Laman Street
Newcastle NSW

(Lifts are available, accessible toilets on Ground Floor)

Exhibition opening hours:
Monday 9.30am – 5pm
Tuesday 9.30am – 8pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 8pm
Thursday 9.30am – 5pm
Friday 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday 9.30am – 2pm
Sunday CLOSED

Curation project

Your historical items could be a part of the exhibition! Please let us know if you have old photos, films or other items to share. (Note that space is limited – not everything will be accepted but please submit anyway.) There are already lots of history, objects and stories provided by Deaf Sport Australia, the ‘Deaf Societies’ and our Deaf clubs.

There won’t be a lot of room to exhibit an extensive history with its items and stories at the Museum but Deaf Sport Australia is keen to continue to share the history and more, on this website after the exhibition is closed in 2024.

The public are invited to put in submissions of deaf history, items and stories that could be shared. Please fill in the form below if you have any item/s you wish to share.

Got questions? Please contact Phil Harper at Deaf Sports Australia – phil.harper@deafsports.org.au.