This website allows you to explore the history of the College and browse recent exhibitions. Look up notable Australian ophthalmologists and see video clips of memories. For the quirky, the section of "Curiosities" under the Resources tab is fascinating and you may wish to add a contribution to this section. Valuable catalogues and technical data on ophthalmic instruments are found in "Resources" The site is being continually updated with new material that has been catalogued and photographed. Ophthalmologists have also allowed us to exhibit material from their private collections for which we are most grateful. Donations or loans of material to exhibit allow all to share our rich ophthalmic heritage.
This website and ongoing museum and archives support has been made possible thanks to Dr Charles Neville Banks (1938 – 2010). Neville was Chair of the College's Archives Committee for several years and frequently worked on the archives at the College office where he was highly regarded and respected by the staff. We thank him for his generous contribution.
This website and ongoing museum collection have been enriched through the generous contributions of Prof Ian McAllister, whose lifelong passion for optical devices has culminated in one of the most significant private collections of ophthalmic instruments in the world. Over four decades, Prof McAllister assembled more than 1,000 diagnostic, surgical, pharmaceutical and teaching artefacts, including rare original Helmholtz ophthalmoscopes and devices associated with Donders’ work on accommodation. Drawn to the artistry and scientific ingenuity of early optical instruments, he has graciously donated his collection to the RANZCO Eye Museum to ensure it remains preserved as a named collection within the profession. His contributions, prominently featured online and at Congress exhibitions, offer a remarkable window into the evolution of ophthalmic technology and discovery.