Braille House splits block for childcare, HQ upgrade coming

After celebrating its 125th birthday earlier this year, one of Brisbane’s most beloved charities is on the cusp of its biggest change yet after selling part of its headquarters.

Aston Agostinho, 11, with his braille books. Braille House, which provides vital reading services, has bold plans for a new headquarters. Picture: Richard Walker

Braille House has assured its Annerley neighbours it is going nowhere after selling part of the sprawling block it has called home since 1954 to a childcare developer.

General manager Richard Barker said the not-for-profit organisation, which received no recurrent funding from any level of government, decided to subdivide its 507 Ipswich Rd site to raise much-needed funds to support its important work.

The existing, old brick building on that part of the property, which was surplus to needs, would be demolished for a two-level childcare catering for up to 108 children.

The project, if approved, would have seven activity rooms, a laundry and kitchen spread across 672 sqm, with an even larger outdoor play area surrounded by sound-dampening fencing.

In exciting news, Mr Barker said the 125-year-old group had also drawn up plans for a new, much-needed, fit-for-purpose headquarters.

It would be built on the site of the carpark, behind an existing house which will be retained.

Braille House in Annerley has sold part of its site for a childcare centre.

Braille House would operate from the third building on the site during construction.

“We want to try to secure a mix of private and government funding for a new building,’’ Mr Barker said.

“We’ve drawn up plans, which we will finalise and get a quantity surveyor to cost, before starting a major fundraising campaign.

“Some people think we’re moving. Rest assured, Braille House will be going nowhere.

Binding books at Braille House in 1954, the year it moved into the present headquarters in Annerley. Picture: Supplied

“We celebrated our 125th birthday in March and there’s an exciting future ahead of us.’’

The area has a cluster of services for those with impaired vision, including Link Vision and the Queensland Blind Association.

There is a special tactile footpath and “Blind Persons Cross Here’’ signs alerting motorists approaching pedestrian crossings on busy Ipswich Rd.

Braille House boasts one of Australia’s largest and most innovative collections of braille reading material.

It actively reaches out to publishers so electronic manuscripts of current books and magazines can be quickly converted to e-braille.

More details about the childcare proposal are on Council’s online development application portal, developmenti. Search for the street address or application A006255155.