Burton Brothers facts for kids

The Burton Brothers (1866–1914) was a very important photography studio in New Zealand. Their main studio was in Dunedin. The studio was started by Walter John Burton in 1866. He first called it the Grand Photographic Saloon and Gallery.

The Burton Brothers: Photography Pioneers

Walter Burton came from a family of skilled printers and photographers in Derby, England. His father, John Burton, had his own firm. Walter's brothers, Alfred Henry, Oliver, and John William Burton, were also involved. In 1856, Alfred moved to New Zealand. He worked as a printer before returning to England.

Starting a Photography Business

In 1866, Walter followed his brother Alfred to New Zealand. He moved to Dunedin with his wife Helen. Dunedin was a busy and rich city at the time. This was because of the recent Central Otago Gold Rush. Walter started his photography business there. It quickly became successful.

In 1868, Walter asked his brother Alfred to join him. Alfred traveled to New Zealand with his wife Lydia and daughter Oona. The two brothers then formed a business partnership. They called it Burton Brothers.

Capturing New Zealand's Beauty

The Burton Brothers studio became very popular. Alfred traveled all over New Zealand. He took amazing landscape photographs. Walter stayed in Dunedin. He focused on taking portraits of people in the studio.

Their firm was very successful. They took studio portraits for settlers. They also captured images of New Zealand's landscapes. They took pictures of Maori people and their culture. These photos were very popular. Tourists and travelers bought them. Collectors around the world also wanted them. The pictures were sold as prints and postcards. They were also sold in photo albums.

Mobile Darkrooms: Photography on the Go

The Burton Brothers were pioneers in using mobile darkrooms. In 1869, they had a special photographic van built. This van was like a portable darkroom. It also helped them safely move their heavy and delicate camera equipment.

The Partnership Changes

The partnership between Walter and Alfred ended in 1877. This was due to personal disagreements. Walter then started his own studio. Alfred continued the business. He worked with his younger brother John. He also hired other talented photographers. These included George Moodie and Thomas Muir. Alfred retired in 1898. He passed away in Dunedin in 1914. Moodie and Muir continued to run the firm. They kept the Burton Brothers name until it closed in 1916.

Alfred Burton's Amazing Work

Alfred Burton is known as one of New Zealand's most important photographers from the 1800s. His series of photos of Maori people in the North Island is very important. This photo series was called "Through the King Country with a camera: a photographers diary." It was published in the Otago Daily Times newspaper in 1885. His stunning photos of Fiordland also helped. They led the New Zealand Government to make the region a National Park.

Exploring the South Pacific

During the 1880s, Alfred traveled a lot. He visited places in the South Pacific. He took photos of village life in Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. He also took pictures of the damage from the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. He re-photographed places he had visited before the eruption. This showed the big changes the eruption caused.

Where to See Their Work Today

Many of the Burton Brothers' photographs are now in a museum. Their original equipment is also there. These items were collected by Hardwicke Knight, a photographer and historian from Dunedin. They are now kept at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.