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:
[Illegible number]317 - Fern - Waitakerei - Auckland. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of three large ponga/tree ferns surrounded by bush and trees. Young Lancewood tree on the left side of image. 5mm fading along left and bottom side, 10mm fading along top and right edges. Crease marks visible along top edge.
[Illegible number]445 - Buller Gorge. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Buller Gorge winding through bush-covered hills, with branches in foreground and bush-covered mountain in background. 5mm fading around edges.
[Illegible number]515 - Village Scene - Koroniti - (Corinth-) Wanganui River. Burton Bros. Dunedin
Village scene in Koroniti. Thirteen Māori adults and children standing/crouching amongst wooden buildings with grass/flax roofs and leaning against wooden perimeter fence. Some wearing European-style clothing, and most wrapped in blankets. Hat hanging on the entrance post of fence. Tree-covered hills in background. 5mm fading around bottom and side edges, and 20mm fading along top edge. Dark spots visible throughout. Pale marks in upper half of image.
[Illegible title]. Burton Bros. Dunedin
New Zealand
Forest green album. Gold edges. Gold lettering. Gold floral design on pastedown/endpaper. Pages edged in gold.
New Zealand
Forest green album. Gold edges. Gold lettering. Gold floral design on pastedown/endpaper.
North Island New Zealand
Album with burgundy cover, gold edges and gold lettering. Gold floral design on pastedown/endpaper.
[number and title illegible - can just make out the word 'Pearson'] Burton Bros. Dunedin
Bearded man in coat and hat sitting in wooden rowboat at the edge of Lake Pearson. Rocky shoreline and bush in right foreground. Hills and snow-capped mountains in distance. 5mm fading around edges. Smudge in top left corner.
NZ Bush Scene
View of bush/forest, including fallen trees. One man standing and two men reclining in front of small building (wooden with tin roof). One man standing and one man reclining on right side of image. Severe fading 15mm around edges (less severe fading 10mm along right edge).
[Pink and/or White Terraces - no title on image but following photos are of Rotorua]
View of pink and/or white terraces, scrub, trees and steam. Man standing in canoe in lake in foreground, holding spear-like weapon. Embossed in bottom right corner with J Martin, Auckland, N.Z. Slight fading 5mm around edges, with larger faded stripe in bottom left corner.