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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:

3430 - Manawatu Gorge. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/30
Scope and Contents

View of Manawatu Gorge. Dirt road on left side of image winding around tree/bush-covered hillside into distance. River on right side of image running between tree-covered hillsides. 5mm fading around edges. Creases in top left corner. Scratches visible throughout surface of image. Pale spots visible throughout.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3443 - The Spit - Napier. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/36
Scope and Contents

View of Napier spit. Trees, farmland and buildings in foreground. Curved bridge leading from mainland (?) to spit. Boats docked in water. Faint hills visible in the distance. Cluster of industrial buildings on mainland (?) on right side of image. 10mm fading along side and bottom edges. Large patches of fading in bottom left and right corners, and across central section of image. Black marks visible across bottom third of image. and smaller black marks visible throughout.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3514 - Wharepuni at Koroniti (Corinth-) [followed by two illegible words]

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/39
Scope and Contents

Interior of wharepuni. Side walls alternating wood and tukutuku panels. Ceiling rafters painted with traditional Māori designs. Carved figure at bottom of each central pole. Carved figure in foreground topped with wreath of foliage. 5mm fading around side and top edges, 25mm fading along bottom edge. Faint scratches visible on left side of image. Slight damage to bottom left corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3549 - The Fair "Orini" - At Ti Eke - King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/35
Scope and Contents

Portrait of Māori woman/girl standing outside entrance to a wooden buiding with a low roof. Wearing European-style buttoned-up top and long gingham skirt, long earrings, and bare feet. Short curly hair. Right hand is resting on the roof, and left hand is holding the handle of a long wooden paddle. 10mm fading around edges of image. Scratches and dark spots visible throughout image.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3555 - Otaianga - Wanganui River - King Country. Burton Bros

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/28
Scope and Contents

View of Wanganui River with vegetation-covered cliffs on either side. Rocks in foreground. Man crouched next to/facing hillside in bottom right corner. 5mm fading around edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3566 - Kakahi Fall Near Tawhata - Wanganui River. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/29
Scope and Contents

View of Kakahi Falls with tree-covered cliffs on either side. River in foreground. 5mm fading around edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3579 - "Taitua" - At Taumaranui - King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/38
Scope and Contents

Close up image of a Māori man with beard and moustache kneeling on small woven mat outside the entrance to a whare, wearing traditional Māori clothing, and holding a spear. 5mm fading around edges. Small part of bottom right corner torn off.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3605 - King Tawhiao's Wharepuni - Te Kuiti - King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/31
Scope and Contents

Māori woman/girl in European dress standing outside King Tawhiao's Wharepuni. Painted carvings along beams, poles, and rafters. Curved wooden door and window insets. Wooden fence surrounding whare. Word printed on board below the tekoteko/figurehead (partially obscured: WA*O). Hills/scrub in background. 5mm fading along side and bottom edges. Mark on right side of image. Crease top left corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3642 - Wairakei (Eagle's Nest). Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/13
Scope and Contents

Portrait format view of large bare branches in foreground forming a nest shape. Trees and bushes in the background. Dark cave-like area in middle of the image. 5mm fading around edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

3647 - Tukorehu & Kohika at Pitoritori - Puniu River- King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

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

Two Māori men in front of a grass-roofed hut. One standing, wearing cloak and holding rifle, and one sitting on mat wearing cloak. Dog in foreground.

Dates: 1868 -1898