Burton Brothers
Dates
- Existence: 1866 - 1898
Biography
In 1866 Walter John Burton immigrated to Dunedin and set up the Grand Photographic Saloon and Gallery in Princes Street. Before coming the New Zealand he had worked with his brothers at their father's prominent studio John Burton and Sons in Nottingham which was patronised by Queen Victoria and other members of the Royal Family.
In 1868 he was joined by his brother Alfred Henry Burton. The firm became known as Burton Bros and was very successful. Alfred travelled extensively taking photographs or 'views' to be sold and Walter looked after the portrait studio. The brothers did not always get on and in 1877 their partnership came to an end. Alfred continued on with the business while Walter struck out on his own and set up the Royal Gallery of Photography on Georges St in 1878. It was unsuccessful and on 10 May 1880 he committed suicide.
After Walter left the firm Alfred and later his son Harold continued to travel all over New Zealand as well as Samoa. Fiji and Tonga to take photographs. When Harold lost his arm in 1890 much of this topographical photography was taken over by an employee, George Moodie.
In around 1882 he went into partnership with Thomas Mintaro Muir, the firm continued to flourish under this partnership. Alfred retired in 1898 and the firm was brought out by Thomas Muir and a new partner George Moodie to become another prominent New Zealand photography studio, Muir & Moodie.
Found in 124 Collections and/or Records:
3681 - Giant Kauri - Taupaki Bush. Burton Bros. Dunedin
Portrait view of giant Kauri tree (mostly trunk, some branches/canopy), surrounded by trees/bush. Two bearded men in hats standing either side of the trunk, holding axes. 10mm fading around edges.
3687 - Taupaki - Kauri Bush - (Mr M H Roe's). Burton Bros. Dunedin
Portrait view of logging site surrounded by bush/forest. Four men working to prepare large logs for transportation along wooden rail. 10mm fading along bottom and left edges, 5mm fading along right edge, and 35mm fading along top edge of image. Small piece of bottom right corner missing.
3691 - Taupaki Kauri Bush. (Mr M.H Roe's). Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of logging site and machinery in forest. Raised log railway running down a hill through middle of the image, transporting log on wheeled wagon. Logs, stumps, and machinery in foreground. 15mm fading along right edge, 5mm fading along other edges. Crease extending 80mm from lower left edge towards upper middle of image.
3699 - Mt Eden - From Mt St John. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Mt Eden taken from Mt St John. Field, fences and bushes in foreground. Large wooden two-storyed houses surrounded by trees in middle of image. More fields and trees in background. 3mm fading around edges of image. Dark spot visible on Mt Eden. Small piece of bottom right corner missing.
3723 - Little Crow's Nest - Neat Lofley's - Taupo. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Little Crow's Nest rock formation. River with rapids/mist running through rocks/cliffs. Large rock on left side jutting out over river. 10mm fading around edges.
3725 - Crow's Nest - Near Lofley's - Taupo. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Crow's Nest rock formation, surrounded by hills and vegetation. Man in hat and white shirt sitting on rock next to Crow's Nest. 5mm fading around edges.
3728 - Waikato River - With Crows Nest - Near Lofley's - Taupo. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Waikato River from clifftop. River winding through hillsides with vegetation, with faint hills in the distance. 5mm fading along side and bottom edges. Pale line along left side of image.
3731 - Lake Taupo & Waikato River. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View from hillside of Lake Taupo and Waikato River. Bushes in foreground. Lake/river in middle distance. Small settlement and fields in background. Faint scratches visible throughout. 3mm fading around left and bottom edges.
3735 - Huka Fall - Waikato. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View from hillside of Huka Falls. Out of focus vegetation in right foreground. 10mm fading around edges.
3757 - Lake Taupo - From Motutere. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View from hillside of Lake Taupo from Motutere. Lake on left wrapping around a spit. High cliff with rockfall on right. Faint hills in the distance. 5mm fading along right and bottom edges. 3mm fading along left edge.