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Burton Brothers

 Organization

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:

4474 - "Siberia" - Rimutaka Incline. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/28
Scope and Contents

Rail line winding into distance between forest-covered hillsides. Bridge crossing over lines in middle distance. Two power poles (?) on left side of tracks. Hillside in left foreground has been logged. 10mm fading around edges of image. Scratches visible on surface of right side of image. Small dark marks in top right corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4535 - Te Huinga - Mud Volcano - Wai-o-tapu Valley. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/16
Scope and Contents

View of Wai-o-tapu Valley. Pools and cracked earth in foreground. Man in middle distance standing with hands on hips, looking towards the left, reflected in a pool of water. Scrub/trees and hills in the background. 5mm fading along left and bottom edges. 10mm fading along right edge. Pale spots visible in mountain and bush areas.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4545 - Terrace Formation (Kotore Kairamua). Wai-o-tapu Valley. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/15
Scope and Contents

Man in hat and dark jacket/trousers reclining beside a shallow lake. Grass/scrub in middle distance. Mountain/trees in background. Diagonal crease mark coming down from top right corner. Pale spots visible in bottom third of image and mountain area. Slight fading 5mm along bottom edge and 2mm around top and side edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4546 - Alum Cliffs - Wai-o-tapu Valley. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/14
Scope and Contents

View of Alum cliffs. Shallow water in foreground leading to pools surrounded by cliffs and trees. Man in hat leaning against cliffs with hand on hip in middle distance. 5mm fading around bottom and side edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4562 - Mud Cone Near Whakarewarewa. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/46
Scope and Contents

View of mud cone formation near Whakarewarewa, rising up from patch of dry earth, surrounded by bush/scrub, with hills/mountains in the distance. 15mm fading around bottom and side edges, and 20mm fading along top edge.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4568 - Tikitere. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/47
Scope and Contents

View of Tikitere/Hell's Gate thermal area, Rotorua. Rocky, dry/cracked land with steam rising from it. Man in suit and hat standing near middle of image, looking away from camera into a crevice. Small wooden building and hills in distance. 10mm fading along top and bottom edges, and 20mm fading along side edges. Creases in top left corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4592 - Govt. House, R. C. Cathedral & House of Parliament. Wellington. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/26
Scope and Contents

View of government buildings, cathedral and surrounding park-like grounds in Wellington, with hills in background. Two men in hats speaking together on the footpath in front of tall wooden fence which surrounds the buildings. Two powerpoles and dozens of power lines also prominent in foreground. 10mm fading along right edge, 5mm fading along left edge. Scratches and imprints from writing visible on surface of image.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4937 - Cathedral Peaks - Lake Manapouri. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/3
Scope and Contents

View of Lake Manapouri and some small tree-covered islands, with Cathedral Peaks in the background. Rocky shoreline in foreground. Trees/bushes/branches in right foreground. Islands reflected in the water. 3mm fading around edges of image. Pale spots visible in the skyline. Faint scratch along bottom right corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4945 - Lake Manapouri from Fairy Cove. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/1
Scope and Contents

View through trees/branches to Lake Manapouri. Rocky shore in foreground and snow-capped mountains in background. Dirt/unknown substance on surface of image. 5mm fading around edges. Mottled damage in top right corner and bottom left corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4948 - Cathedral Peaks - Lake Manapouri - From Pomona Id. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/2
Scope and Contents

View of Lake Manapouri with snow-capped Catherdral Peaks in background. Rocky shoreline and hillside in foreground. Man smoking pipe, standing in wooden sailboat which has been pulled up to the shore. 3mm fading around edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898