7 things named after Fred Hollows

We campaigned to have Fred Hollows featured on the Australian $5 note in 2016, an honour we felt matched his incredible impact. While that campaign didn’t succeed, Fred’s legacy lives on in remarkable ways across the globe. 

From a street in Eritrea to a ferry in Sydney, here are just a few of the places that proudly bear his name…  

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1. Eritrean IOL laboratory
2. Asmara street 
3. Eritrean kindergarten 
4. ACT eye ward 
5. Sydney ferry 
6. NSW road 
7. Australian park 

1. Eritrean IOL laboratory

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

Fred helped establish an Intro Ocular Lens laboratory in Asmara, the capital of eastern African nation Eritrea. The lab produced the lenses used in cataract surgery at a fraction of the cost they had previously been available for, and in a location close to places they were needed. 

Together with output from the IOL factory in Nepal, this helped revolutionise the world of eye health by making cataract surgery more affordable for people who it was previously out of reach for. 

For his instrumental role in that, The Fred Hollows IOL Laboratory carries his name. 

2. Asmara street

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

Fred Hollows Street in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, stands as a reminder of Fred's legacy of hope and healthcare in the region.

It’s a rare honour and testament to the deep connections Fred built with communities in Eritrea during his efforts to restore sight across borders.

3. Eritrean kindergarten

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

Further testament to Fred’s connection with Eritrean communities is the decision to name the kindergarten on Asmara’s Fred Hollows Street after him. 

The Fred Hollows Kindergarten reflects Fred’s commitment to building brighter futures by investing not only in eye health but also in the next generation.

4. Australian Capital Territory eye ward 

The Fred Hollows Operating Theatre, within the Canberra Eye Hospital, opened its doors in August 2005, ensuring Fred’s vision for quality eye care thrives in Australia’s capital. 

Gabi Hollows was there to officially unveil the theatre, marking another chapter in Fred’s lifelong mission to make sight accessible to all. 

5. Sydney ferry

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

The Fred Hollows ferry was launched on 26 June, 2017, and now operates across Sydney Harbour to "celebrate the life and career of the respected ophthalmologist, social justice activist and former Australian of the Year who devoted his lift to making critical eye care available to communities in Australia and overseas,” says Transport NSW. 

It was the first Emerald-class ferry to enter service, chosen by public vote through the ‘Name Your Ferry’ campaign. 

With more than 60,000 votes cast, the ferry embodies the community’s admiration for Fred’s vision and achievements. 

6. New South Wales road

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

The Fred Hollows Vision Way on the Mitchell Highway marks the entrance to Bourke in far-north-western New South Wales, Australia.

Fred's work in remote Aboriginal communities through the 1970s took him to and beyond Bourke, and the town became his final resting place.

"I've fallen deeply in love with this great, concave continent and I want to be buried in the Bourke cemetery," Fred said, "That’s the closest bit of 'real Australia' to here."

His legacy lives on, both in the landscape and through ongoing eye health work in the region.

7. Australian park