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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:

4304 - Niho[illegible] Fall - Waitakerei - Auckland. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/45
Scope and Contents

View of wide waterfall with rock jutting upwards from the middle, flowing into pool which flows into rocky river in foreground. Surrounded by large ferns and trees/bush. 5mm fading around edges. Small piece of bottom right corner missing. Dark marks/smudges on left bottom edge and dark spots visible in right side of image.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4305 - Nihotapu Fall - Waitakere - Auckland. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/44
Scope and Contents

Portrait view of Nihotapu Falls. Young European boy sitting on rocks in foreground, wearing suit and hat. Falls surrounded by rocky cliffs and bushes/trees. 5mm fading around edges. Small piece of bottom right corner missing.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4334 - Auckland Harbor. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/1/7
Scope and Contents

View of Auckland Harbour taken from a hill. Top of big tree in foreground. Houses/buildings in middle distance. Harbour and islands in background. 5mm fading along bottom edge of image. Possibly embossed near bottom left corner.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4342 - Auckland Wharf. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/2/41
Scope and Contents View of Auckland wharf, featuring horse-drawn carriages carrying boxes, and men working on and walking along the wharf. Ships docked in harbour, and large buildings in background. Wooden building in middle distance painted with "Bond, Free Stores, Albert Street. Bonds, free goods, passengers luggage received from ships side and stored at reasonable rates". Dark smoke coming from a chimney in the background. 10mm fading around edges. Large pale sport on left side of image. Small black spots...
Dates: 1868 -1898

4366 - A Geyser - Whakarewarewa. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/1/10
Scope and Contents

Portrait format view of geyser in Whakarewarewa. Rocks/water in foreground, with steam rising from rocks/water. Hillside on right side in background. Horizontal line across image, 6cm from bottom. Water (?) damage across top of photograph. Mark in top right corner. 10mm fading around bottom and side edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4368 - A Geyser - Whakarewarewa. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/1/9
Scope and Contents

View of geyser in Whakarewarewa. Water in foregound, with steam and rocks. Hillside with trees in background on right side. Slight fading/damage 5mm along bottom and right edges. Dark mark near the middle of bottom edge.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4371 - Wakarewarewa. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/1/12
Scope and Contents

View of Whakarewarewa township. River in foreground with large wooden bridge crossing it on the left side. Wooden buildings in middle distance. Large hill in background on right side. Slight fading 5mm around edges.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4372 - Whakarewarewa. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/45
Scope and Contents

View of Whakarewarewa settlement , including wooden buildings/dwellings and washing lines. Scrub/rocky hillside in foreground and hills in background. Steam rising from land on right side. Wooden bridge crossing small river on left side. 5mm fading along right edge, 10mm fading along left edge, and larger patches visible along hill ranges and near the middle of the image. Smudge in top left corner. Long scratch down along right side of image.

Dates: 1868 -1898

4373 - Ohinemutu. ["Burton Bros. Dunedin" Stamp, only partially visible]

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/42
Scope and Contents View of Ohinemutu with lake and shoreline in foreground, surrounded by wooden buildings and trees/bushes. Group of nine Māori standing on lakeshore behind two wooden waka/canoes. Three people carrying spear-like weapons or staffs. A tenth person crouched at the edge of lake on the righthand side. Steam/mist flowing up from water. 10mm fading along side edges, with larger patches in corners and visible in lighter areas of the image. Marks added after photograph was taken (?) on building on...
Dates: 1868 -1898

4473 - Rimutaka Incline - Wellington. Burton Bros. Dunedin

 Item
Identifier: Arch 1111/3/29
Scope and Contents

Portrait view of Rimutaka Incline in Wellington. Rail line winding into distance on right side of image, with tree/bush-covered valley on the left, and hillside on right. More hills in the distance. Power poles and power lines running alongside rail. 20mm tear in top left corner, and round stain 50mm below tear. Small dark marks visible in lighter areas of image.

Dates: 1868 -1898