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:
3888 - Rotomahana. Burton Bros. Dunedin.
View of Rotomahana. Bush/scrub in foreground. River/geysers with steam in middle distance. Hills and mountains in background. Fading 10mm around bottom and side edges.
3895 - White Terrace. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of white terrace with hills and river/lake beyond. Person wearing shorts or skirt and wrapped in blanket sitting on terrace, facing towards the right. Slight fading 3mm around bottom and side edges. Small round marks in top right of image.
3899 - The Hot Water Basins - White Terrace. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of hot water basin rock formations at White Terraces. Tree and hills in background. Māori person (possibly naked) sitting on a basin ledge, facing towards the right. 20mm fading around edges, more severe fading along top and left edges, including faded stripe/crease along left edge.
3903 - White Terrace
View of white terraces surrounded by bush-covered hills, leading down to lake in foreground. Steam rising from terraces. 15mm fading along side edges, 5mm fading along bottom edge, and larger patches in bottom left corner. Small black marks visible in water. Crease marks on surface of image.
3924 - Pink Terrace
View of pink terraces running down towards lake, between bush-covered hills. Four Māori on spit jutting out into the lake, one sitting with a paddle on the edge of a waka/canoe, two sitting on the ground, and one standing. Steam rising from the terraces. 15mm fading along bottom edge, and 10mm fading along side edges. Scratches/creases visible on surface, and smudge in top left corner.
4010 - Mount Egmont - From Parihaka. Burton Bros. Dunedin
4082 - Wairoa - After Eruption. June 10 - 86. Burton Bros. Dunedin, 10 June 1886
View of Wairoa after Tarawera eruption. Leafless trees interspersed with various wooden structures and buildings. Mountains in background. Burton Bros Dunedin printed twice on image. Slight fading 10mm around edges.
4086 - Lake Tarawera from Wairoa after Eruption. June 10 - 86. Burton Bros. Dunedin, 10 June 1886
View of Lake Tarawera from Wairoa after Tarawera eruption. Mountainside in foreground covered in bush/rocks. Lake in middle distance. Mountains behind lake very pale. Burton Bros. Dunedin printed twice along the bottom of the image. Dark spots visible in lighter parts of image, including large spots in top right. Slight fading 5mm around edges.
4125 - Mt Tarawera from Rotomahana - After Eruption - June 10 - 86. Burton Bros. Dunedin, 10 June 1886
View of Mt Tarawera from Rotomahana after eruption. Steam in foreground. Severe fading 10mm along right edge, less severe along left edge. Small dark spots throughout image. Pale vertical stripes on left side of image.
4149 - Hinemoa's Bath - Mokoia - 1 50 - Rotorua. Burton Bros. Dunedin
View of Hinemoa's bath, a pool sectioned off from lake behind it with branches and rocks. Small island in lake, with faint hills visible in distance. Two Māori women wearing European-style clothing in right of foregound, one standing and one sitting. Six other people standing on lakeshore, two of whom are posing with fists up towards each other. 15mm fading along side edge, and 10mm fading along bottom edge. Dark marks in bottom right corner and top left corner. Smudges along left side.