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:
4950 - Head of Lake Manapouri from Pomona Island. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Lake Manapouri surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Large trees/foliage/branches in foreground. 2mm fading around edges. Spots visible on left side of image. Small dark spots and scratches visible in middle of image.
4983 - Christchurch from the Cathedral Tower. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Christchurch City taken from the Christchurch Cathedral tower, looking down Colombo Street towards the hills. Horses with carriages parked infront of cathedral and moving through streets. Port Hills in the background. Large business in right foreground with signage for 'KIDD' and 'J W Wakelin(?)'. 5mm fading around edges. Scratches visible throughout centre of image and dark smudges in top right corner.
4986 - On the Avon - Christchurch. Burton Bros. Dunedin
Young man in suit and hat sitting in wooden rowboat on the Avon river. Roof visible through trees on opposite side of river. Trees/bushes/foliage oneither side of river, reflected in water. 10mm fading around edges of image. Crease marks visible along top edge.
4988 - Lyttelton. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Lyttelton Harbour taken from hillside. Industrial buildings and canal in foreground. Variety of ships in harbour. Lyttelton settlement and Port Hills in background. 5mm fading around edges. Large pale spots on right side of image. Crease near bottom of right edge.
4998 - Lake Pearson - West Coast Road. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Lake Pearson. Gravel riverbed/gorge in foreground winding through tree/bush-covered hillsides to lake. Small building visible in distance. Mountains in background. 15mm fading along left side, and 5mm fading along other edges. Smudge on left side of image and dark mark visible in top right corner.
5007 - Bealey - West Coast Road. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Bealey taken from West Coast Road. Tops of large trees in foreground. River and gravel riverbed winding through image towards snow-capped mountains in background. 10mm fading along right edge, and 5mm fading along other edges.
5010 - Otira Gorge - West Coast Road. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of the West Coast Road running through Otira Gorge. Bush-covered hillsides on either side of river/gorge and snow-capped mountains in the distance. 5mm fading around edges of image, with larger patch of fading in top right corner. Small dark marks visible throughout image.
5023 - [beginning of title cut off] Lake Brunner. Bros. Dunedin
View of Lake Brunner with trees/branches (including Lancewoods) in foreground and right side of image, and mountains in the distance. Trees reflected in water. 15mm fading along left edge, 5mm fading along bottom and top edges, and 10mm fading along right edge. Larger patch of fading in top right corner. Fading and marks visible throughout mountain and sky areas of image.
5364 - Government Buildings. Wellington. N. Z. Burton Bros. Dunedin
Street corner scene featuring government buildings in Wellington. Man in hat leaning against wooden fence which surrounds the buildings, near a power pole with power lines stretching away in either direction. Bushes and trees behind fence. Building features several chimneys and decorative elements such as statues and a clock. 10mm fading around edges of image. Large white mark in the middle of bottom edge.
5442 - Westport. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Wesport. Large trees in foreground, standing in front of field with grazing cows. River runmomg through middle of image, disected by a large bridge leading to Westport township which is visible on far side of river. Trees/forest faintly visible in distance. 5mm fading around edges, with larger patch of fading in bottom left corner. Small smudge near bottom left corner.