Henry Winkelmann facts for kids

Henry Winkelmann (1860–1931) was a famous photographer from New Zealand. He took pictures of many different things, but he was most well-known for his amazing photographs of yachts and boats.

Early Life and Moving to New Zealand

Henry Winkelmann was born in Bradford, England, on September 26, 1860. He was one of eight children. His father was a merchant.

In 1878, when Henry was 18, he sailed to New Zealand on a ship called the Calypso. He arrived at Port Chalmers. A few years later, in the mid-1880s, his mother and five sisters also moved to New Zealand.

Adventure on Jarvis Island

In 1881, Henry Winkelmann was living in Auckland and looking for work. He and a friend, Harold Willey Hudson, were hired for an unusual job. They were sent to an empty place called Jarvis Island, which is near the equator. The island was important because it had a lot of guano, which is bird droppings used as fertilizer.

They left Auckland on a ship called the Sunbeam in June 1881. To keep their mission a secret, the ship's advertised destination was different. They arrived at Jarvis Island in August 1881. The island was small, made mostly of white coral and guano. It had no trees, but there were some old buildings and three graves.

Henry and Harold explored the island. They found a foreign flag and signs that someone had been there recently but left because they were sick. Henry and Harold then put up the British flag to claim the island.

The ship was supposed to return after three months, but it didn't. The men had to find ways to survive. They built a special machine to make fresh water, caught turtles, and ate birds' eggs. They were finally rescued in March 1882, almost eight months after they arrived! When they returned to Auckland, they were paid for their time on the island.

Working at the Bank

In 1882, Henry Winkelmann started working for the Bank of New Zealand. He worked in different places, including New Zealand and Fiji. To earn extra money, he taught the zither (a musical instrument) and played in concerts.

In 1889, he moved to Sydney, Australia, for his bank job. He returned to Auckland in 1891.

Starting Photography

In April 1892, Henry bought a camera called a Lancaster Instantograph. He quickly realized he could earn money from photography. He set up a darkroom in his mother's house in Devonport. He continued to work at the bank, even when he was moved to Blenheim.

After his mother passed away in 1897, he left the bank and came back to Auckland. He started different jobs, like working for a shipping company and selling insurance. All this time, he kept taking photographs to earn more money.

In July 1898, Henry became the secretary of the Coastal Steamship Company. He traveled all over New Zealand, taking pictures of different sights and scenes. This helped him build a large collection of photographs.

Yachting Photography

In 1899, Henry Winkelmann joined the Auckland Yacht Club. By 1893, his love for photography and yachting came together. He became very famous for his pictures of yachts. He would even climb the masts of sailing boats to take amazing pictures from above!

To take even better photos, he bought a new camera and an enlarging lantern. His photographs started appearing in newspapers and magazines in New Zealand and overseas, especially in the Auckland Weekly News.

Henry won several photography awards, including the New Zealand Graphic photography competition in 1895. In 1908, he won the Auckland Weekly News photography competition. In 1915, he won a big award at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

Photographic Studio and Expeditions

In August 1901, Henry Winkelmann opened his own photography studio in Auckland.

He also joined important trips as a photographer:

• In 1903, he went with New Zealand politicians on a visit to the Pacific islands.
• In 1906, his photos were shown at the Christchurch International Exhibition.
• In 1908, he was the photographer on a scientific trip to view a solar eclipse at Flint Island.
• In 1910, he joined another scientific trip to the Cook and Society islands.

Later Life and Retirement

Around 1913, Henry Winkelmann bought a farm in Kaukapakapa. He spent much of World War I there, taking a break from social life, except for yacht races. In 1917, he moved to Swanson, where he started an orchard and raised chickens. He eventually owned a large amount of land in Swanson.

While living in Swanson, Henry taught a local boy named Olaf Petersen how to use a camera. Olaf Petersen later became a very respected nature photographer himself.

In 1928, Henry retired and sold his collection of Auckland city negatives (the original photo plates) to the Auckland Public Library. He spent his retirement in Swanson and Ponsonby. Henry Winkelmann passed away on July 5, 1931.

In his will, he left his collection of photographs and glass-plate negatives to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Later, in 1972, his nephew gave even more of Henry's negatives, lantern slides, photo albums, and original prints to the Auckland Museum.

Interests and Clubs

Henry Winkelmann never married. He was a member of several clubs and associations, including:

• The Victoria Cruising Club
• Auckland Yacht Club
• The New Zealand Power Boat Association
• The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts
• The Auckland Savage Club

Gallery

• Photographs by Henry Winkelmann
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  Showing the yacht 'Viking' with the Governor aboard, taken 30 November 1912.

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  Showing two artillery guns in Albert Park, taken October 1898.

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  Looking east towards Albert Park showing the Auckland Public Library, taken 1905.

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  Looking north east from Bishops Palace, Ponsonby, taken 1900.

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  Looking south towards Queen Street showing general activity on Queen Street Wharf, taken 8 February 1904.

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  Showing a yachting demonstration on the departure of the eighth volunteer contingent for the Boer War, taken 1 February 1902.

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  Showing cases of kauri gum being loaded on to a dray, taken July 1905.