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Our history.

Supporting Australians with low vision or blindness since 1957.

Our history: the early years

A young West Australian, Arnold lost his sight at the age of 18 through a rare disease.

Arnold became familiar with Guide Dogs after travelling to England to study at the London School of Economics. He trained at Britain’s Guide Dog Association and was paired with a black Labrador named Dreana.

A 1940's black and white image of two people outside a Guide Dog Training Centre. One of the people in kneeling down next to a yellow labrador Guide Dog in harness and the other is holding a yellow ten week old labrador puppy. Both dogs and people are looking at the camera.

In 1962, the Guide Dog Association moved Victorian headquarters to our current location in Kew. The first specially-designed Guide Dog Centre in the world was built on land granted to the National Association by the Victorian Government.

In 1967 we launched the Puppy Raising program, enabling young pups to be socialised in a family environment for 12 months before beginning Guide Dog training.

On July 1st 1998, Guide Dogs Victoria assumed the business operations of the National Association, known as the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia. This includes Guide Dog breeding, Puppy Raising and training programs, and other mobility services for people with low vision. State associations continue to service people with low vision in their own state.

Guide Dogs Victoria is a proud member of the International Guide Dog Federation.

Early beginnings

Arnold and Dreana created enormous interest upon their return to Australia. Unsurprisingly, many other West Australians with low vision were eager to partner with Guide Dogs and a year later the first Guide Dog Association was formed in Perth.

By 1957 there were Guide Dog Associations in each state.

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