Tunley Braille Globe Digitisation

R.F Tunley’s Braille Globe is an intricate Braille globe invented in Queensland in the 1950s. The globe was originally created for vision-impaired children by Queenslander Richard Frank Tunley, known as the ‘Fairy Godfather of Blind Children’, who dedicated his life to improving outcomes for vision-impaired children and adults, producing Braille globes and maps. You can learn more about Tunley and a selection of his works that are in the State Library collections.

State Library has used 3D capture techniques to create an SLS Nylon printed replica of the globe that is able to be touched as the original was intended to be experienced. The model is accompanied by open access resources including digital 3D models and 3D printable files.

State Library worked with a number of collaborators to help realise this project including Christie Tamas at Dittolabs whose expertise helped guide the project and who completed the scanning and photogrammetry of the Globe; Josh O'Connell at onepointsix who helped enhance the models and made them ready for printing.