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Early Photographers of SINGLETON, NSW |
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Site created 28 June 2004/last updated
28 June 2004
© Marcel Safier 2004. |
| Index of Photographers and Studios listed on this site: |
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| Maryborough
was an important Queensland port and the destination for many English and
German emigrant ships during the 1860s and 1870s. The town serviced
a large pastoral and mining district in the 19th century. A large number of photographers
worked in Maryborough during the 19th century with approximately 25 practitioners
of the art having established studios at various times.
A number of travelling photographers also passed through the town and district. The first of these was William True Bennett, an American who visited Brisbane and Ipswich in 1857 and the Maryborough region in 1858. Bennett produced ambrotypes and tintypes. It does not appear that any of the early photographers in the town ever offered daguerreotypes which seems a privilege shared only by Brisbane, Ipswich, Warwick and the Darling Downs. to be continued... |
| EARLY PHOTOGRAPHERS/STUDIOS | |||
| STUDIO/PHOTOGRAPHERS NAME | ADDRESS OF OPERATION | DATES ACTIVE | NOTES incl. types of photographs produced |
| Benjamin H. Ballard | Branxton Singleton |
1886 1888 |
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| Barrett & Wanless | Singleton | 1902 | |
| EARLY POST CARD PUBLISHERS | |||
| PUBLISHER/SERIES | DATES PRODUCED | NOTES | |
| Coloured Shell Series | c.1904-1915 | Produced view postcards covering the all major towns of Queensland. They appear to have licensed negatives also used by other publishers. Their range included over 150 different views. At least one of the Maryborough views was taken by A.E. Urry. | |
| Skipper Watson | c.1915-1920 | Titles: 12. Granville Bridge, Maryborough |
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| Notes:
Some of the year ranges stated may not be accurate or complete as the information is limited to what has appeared in trade directories and newspapers and what was written on photos. Trade directory entries took some months to appear in print, and businesses opening after publication date did not appear until the next issue. The above list should be reasonably complete for photographers who established studios in Maryborough but may be deficient in coverage of travelling/itinerant photographers who visited the region as they often left little record of their activities although sometimes they did announce their arrival in a local newspaper. Due to the large number of such requests I am no longer able to date your photos personally. If you are seeking historical photos of Singleton I would suggest the organisations listed below as my collection consists mainly of portraiture. Anyone with further information about the above photographers or with names of and information about other photographers not listed is welcome to contact me. N.B. ** I am particularly interested in making contact with the descendants and relations of photographers** |
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| Sources:
Private research by site author through contacting the
descendants of photographers. Most of the photographs studied and
used on this site are from my private collection which is predominantly
unidentified portraiture.
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| Thankyou to Harry Poulsen, Ken & Millicent Poulsen, Nancy Edwards | |||
| GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPH TYPES | |
| Daguerreotype | Invented by Louis Daguerre in 1837 and introduced to the world in 1839 developed in parallel with the calotype, the other tying first form of photograph. The daguerreotype was produced on highly buffed silver coated on to a brass plate and cannot be easily viewed unless turned at the right angle. The image was mounted under a brass mat and glass and placed in a leather bound folding case (imported from the USA, France or England) or sometimes framed. Ninth, sixth, quarter and half plate sizes were the most popular - the former two being those most commonly found. |
| Ambrotype | Underexposed and sometimes bleached photographic negative on glass backed by black paper, dark velvet or black paint directly on the plate to make the negative appear positive. This was then mounted in a brass frame and placed in a papier-mâché or leather bound folding case or sometimes framed. Ninth, sixth and quarter plate sizes were all popular - half and full plate images are sometimes seen. |
| Carte de Visite | Paper photograph from glass plate negative mounted on card board mount 2 1/2" x 4" - popular from 1861-c.1895 |
| Cabinet Photo | Paper photograph from glass plate negative mounted on card board mount 4 1/4" x 6 1/2" - popular from mid 1870s-c.1905 |
| Tintype | Small postage stamp sized photograph on metallic tin usually mounted in carte de visite sized cardboard frame (gem tintype) or unmounted carte de visite sized photo on tin (2½" x 3½"plate) - popular 1879-1885 |
| Opalotype | Photograph on white opaque "milk" or "opal" glass. Commonly 12" x 14" and framed. |
| Postcard Photo | Photograph on paper with printed post card back, so that it could be mailed if desired taking advantage of the penny post. This paper was used by professionals (where it was mainly used for studio portraiture or for views specifically for the postcard market) and by amateurs alike. Size 5" x 3 1/2" |
| Singleton and district historical organisations/libraries/museums & other links of interest | |
| Family
History Society Singleton Inc. P.O. Box 422 Singleton NSW 2230 |
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