Kett Optometry Museum of the Australian College of Optometry
+ Add to ItineraryDescription
The Kett Optometry Museum is a contemporary, extensive gallery designed by Thylacine. It tells the story of the historical development of optometry from early spectacle-making to the science-based profession of today. It highlights the roles of some of the people involved in the advancement of optometry in Melbourne.
The Australian College of Optometry provides public health optometry services as ACO Eye Health, offers best practice education for optometrists, and undertakes internationally recognised research to improve the understanding of vision science and eye care.
The Carlton home of the Australian College of Optometry was designed by the Reid Partnership in 1985 to bring together a number of disparate buildings by using former laneways between the buildings as the basis for multi-level internal pedestrian spines. The building is named after Barry Cole, who played a very significant role in the history of the ACO.
What's On
Join a guided tour of the gallery of the Kett Optometry Museum and the Australian College of Optometry building. Visitors will be introduced to the stories of individuals who pioneered optometry in Melbourne. They will see a collection of historic spectacles, a recreated 1930s optometrist’s consulting room and many examples of early clinical equipment.
Images: (1) Eye bath welcome wall. (2) 1930s consulting room. (3) Spectacles display. (4) ACO building exterior. (5) ACO building atrium. All photos: Australian College of Optometry.







