We, the present members of the ADS owe our grateful thanks to there foundation members who formed the Deaf Club in 1937.
They have all since passed to a better life.
We are also grateful to our Senior Members of the Auckland Deaf Society for all the hard work they have put into the Society. These people are truly pioneers in their times. They have rich memories of the good old days, as they fondly say, doing things like working bees, running fairs and bring their hearing children along.
Timeline
1937
- On 24th September 1937, the founding of the first Auckland Adult Deaf Society was formed by the first founder & original member Murray Williams.
- The first Deaf Club location was at a old shop located at 47 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland.
- The new Auckland Adult Deaf Society got formed with the first 25 financial members.
1938
- In 1938, the second Deaf Club was held in a informal Auckland Motorcycle Club at 19 Greys Ave, Central Auckland for two years until 1940.
- The Certificate of Incorporation was created on the 24th of March 1938.
- Auckland Adult Deaf Society Inc expands with 44 financial members.
1940
- In 1940, the third Deaf Club was temporarily held at the Patricia Dance Studio School on Upper Symonds Street, Central Auckland for a short time.
- The fourth Deaf club was held in the Congregational Church at 2 Edinburgh Street, in Newton from 1940 to 1950. This same church building also become the first Pacific Congregation Church formed in 1947 for the pacific community in Auckland, NZ.
1950
- The fifth Deaf club was held at the Community Sunshine Association on Nelson Street, near the intersection of Wellesley Street, Auckland Central from 1950 to 1958.
1953
- ‘Friends of the Deaf’ team was formed on the 14th of February 1953 for Auckland Adults Deaf Society Inc. They organised together food stalls & picnics, selling many raffle tickets within the Friends of the Deaf’s’ Building Fund.
1954
- With the Building Fund, they purchased the land and our sixth Deaf club at 164 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden in 1954.
1956
- The Auckland Adult Deaf Society changed their name to Auckland Deaf Society Inc. on the 11th of September 1956.
1958
- Opening ceremony of the new ADS hall on the 6th of December 1958.
1961
- In 1961, ADS member Deaf wrestler John McRae represented in wrestling for the New Zealand Deaf team. He won the first 2 medals during the International Silent Games (ISG). (ISG is now known as Deaflympics today.)
1962
- In 1962, a Deaf couple Murray and Olive Williams celebrated 25 years Anniversary of Auckland Deaf Society Inc. cutting a cake together.
1971
- In 1971, New Deaf senior tenants moved into the new Pensioner flats location next to the Auckland Deaf Society building in Balmoral.
1977
- Transference of shares of the Certificate of Title for 164 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden, under the Land Transfer Act from the Friends of the Deaf Inc. to Auckland Deaf Society Inc. on 8th February 1977.
1978
- In 1978, Dennis Nathan was awarded a OBE as a Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services in the Deaf Community.
- Cyril Allen was awarded a MBE, as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services in the Deaf Community.
1987
- In 1987, a Deaf couple Stewart and Kathleen Smith cut a cake together celebrating Auckland Deaf Society Inc’s 50th years Anniversary.
1989
- In 1989, Auckland Deaf Society Senior Citizens was formed together by Deaf senior citizens, Laurie Schischka, Kathleen French and John Hunt.
1990
- In 1990, Auckland Deaf Society had 289 members.
2002
- In 2002, the 1st Wallace Williams Memorial Comedy Night was organised by the Deafinitey Youth Group.
2003
- In 2003, an ADS Property Redevelopment committee was set up.
2004
- In 2004, the ADS Seniors Citizens celebrated their 15th Anniversary.
2005
- In 2005, we said farewell to the old 1971 Pensioners Balmoral flats after 34 years at ADS.
2006
- On November 2006, the frontal old ADS building and the Pensioner flats got demolished, after that a Temporary Deaf Club for members was held at the Balmoral Bowling Club in Mount Eden.
2007
- The new Balmoral ADS renovated clubrooms were built and officially opened on the 3rd of November 2007 by the Labour Party minister, the Honourable Ruth Dyson QSO.
2010
- In 2010, Mary Johnson awarded a MNZM as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for her services in the Deaf Community.
- Auckland Deaf Society had 436 members.
2011
- In 2011, members of the ADS voted to establish the Auckland Deaf Society Foundation Trust to look after their properties and investments.
2012
- In 2012, the Auckland Deaf Foundation Trust was formed with new trustees.
- Ray Whiting, Helen Willams, Owen Gibbons, Laurie and Sylvia Schischka celebrated ADS’s 75th years Anniversary cutting a cake together in 2012.
2015
- In 2015, Peter Murray was awarded a MNZM as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for Basketball Refereeing.
2018
- Sold the ADS building after 64 years on the Balmoral location in 2018.
2019
- In May 2019, the ADS Foundation Trust purchased the 90 years old Hillsborough Bowling Club building at 16 Hillsborough Road in Three Kings.
2020
- In 2020, Auckland Deaf Society had 264 members.
- On Friday, the 31st of January 2020 was the last Friday evening held for Deaf members and friends at 164 Balmoral Rd, Mount Eden.
- A temporary Deaf Club was held at the Royal Oak Bowling Club on 14th February 2020 due to the renovations with the bar and kitchen area at ADS.
- ADS was closed during the first COVID-19 outbreak on the 25th of March 2020, lasting for 7 weeks. Hillsborough ADS clubrooms opened again on the 2nd of October 2020.
2022
- In 2022, we marked our 85th years anniversary.
2024
- In 2024, the Deaf Senior Citizens Club members, Colleen Norris and Sharron Attwood, cut a cake together, celebrating being a part of the Auckland Deaf Senior Citizens club for 35 years.
- In 2024, Kevin Pivac awarded a ONZM as a Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services in NZ Deaf rugby community.
Memorabilia
Auckland Deaf Society History Now Digitised on SignDNA
Auckland Deaf Society has successfully completed the digitisation of its rich history, including hundreds of documents, scanned materials, trophies, and sports photographs.
These valuable archives are now available online through SignDNA, where you can search for names and discover related visual records and historical content.
We sincerely thank the NZSL Board for their generous grant, which made this project possible and supported its successful completion in March 2025.
