The American and Australasian Photographic Company, also known as the A&A Photographic Company was the business name used by photographer, Beaufoy Merlin.
Studios of American & Australasian Photographic Company, Tambaroora St., Hill End, (proprietor Beaufoy Merlin) showing members of the staff (3 figures on right) and passers-by
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
When Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss arrived in Sydney in September 1870, they had already completed an extraordinary documentation of “almost every house in Melbourne, and the other towns in Victoria.” They were aware that their venture was unusual and contemporary advertising by the American & Australasian Photographic Company reflects a considered understanding of the photographic medium and an intellectual approach to their work.
“The chief characteristic and distinguishing feature of the Company’s style of work, is the introduction of figures into the photograph – the most complete and life-like portraits of individuals who happen, or may choose to stand outside, being incorporated in the picture.The A&A Photographic Company desire further to remind the public that these negatives are not taken for the mere immediate object of sale, but that being registered, copies can at all times be had by or of those parties residing in any part of the colonies wherever the Company’s operations have extended, thus forming a novel means of social and commercial intercourse.”
Nevertheless, it is not surprising that Merlin and Bayliss headed west in 1872 with the new gold rushes. The cry “Rush-O!” meant money for businesses, including photographers. A studio for the A&A Photographic Company was built on land owned by Holtermann in Hill End and excursions were made to surrounding areas by horse drawn caravan.
Source: State Library of NSW
Mr. MERLIN begs to inform the mining community, and others interested in the above locality, the series of PHOTOGRAPHS taken by him during the last few weeks are THIS DAY ON VIEW at the A. and A. Photo. Rooms, 324, George Street.
Mr. CARLISLE will receive orders for the above. Plates issued from the above office may be depended upon as correct.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wed 8 May 1872 Page 1
Dead tree trunk with pigeoncotes suspended by local storekeepers, and the horse-drawn mobile photographic studio of Beaufoy Merlin to the left, Mudgee Road, Tambaroora, New South Wales, ca.1872
Source: National Library of Australia
1872 - View of Hill End.
The accompanying view of Clarke-street, Hill End, is from an excellent photograph by Beaufoy Merlin, Esq., who is now on a visit to the Tambaroora district, with the view of depicting some of the most striking scenes in that wonderfully auriferous region.
The photograph was taken on a Saturday afternoon, so that it represents the place during the most busy and bustling period of the weak. Our Special Reporter writes:-
"The township of Hill End is becoming a thriving township, with neat residences and gardens round about it, neat churches and schools, shops, stores, and hotels. Of the latter, however, strange to say, there seems scarcely enough to meet present requirements, for every place of accommodation seems crowded. To meet the demand a new House Company is projected, capital £7000, to build a new one of brick, upon a plan suited to the general wants of visitors and speculators, having thirty bed-rooms, and an unusual number of sitting rooms for the transaction of private business. Mr. Wythes has built himself a commodious hotel, and commands, as he deserves to do—being one of the fathers and sustainers of the infant district at a time when it was in a very depressed condition—a large share of public custom. Coyle's, the leading hotel, is a two-story building of brick, much crowded with visitors; and the same may be said of Mr. Weir's."
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
1872 - [HILL END PHOTOS]
Specimens of Mr. Merlin's photographic achievements at Hill End — a place hitherto inaccessible to the solar artist— are on exhibition, at Mr. Degobardi's, George Street.
1872 - Photographs of Hill End and Hawkins' Hill.
We have been favoured with an inspection of nearly 100 magnificent photographic views, illustrating various scenes in Hill End and its vicinity, including the most celebrated claims on Hawkins' Hill.
The views, which are of great artistic excellence, were executed by Mr. Beaufoy Merlin, who sojourned at Tambaroora for several weeks for the express purpose of depicting everything worthy of note in the remarkable locality; and for clearness and perspicuity have never been excelled." They reflect the highest credit on that gentleman's skill and taste as a photographic artist.
The principal photograph is a paaoramic view of Hawkins' Hill Proper... There are also upwards of twenty well executed large views, and about one dozen lesser views, together with sixty smaller photographs, descriptive of not only the above-mentioned claims, but of every scene of interest in the neighbourhood, and also of the principal machinery at work. The whole series comprise a valuable, as well as an interesting collection portraying the extensive mining operations as at present existing, and which are exciting such unbounded interest in the public mind. The demand, for these splendid photographs will, we hope, reimburse the spirited artist for the great difficulties undergone and expense he incurred is carrying out his object in so mountainous and broken a country. So far as we are aware nothing of the like nature has ever before been successfully accomplished in similar circumstances.
HAWKINS' HILL.-VIEW NO. 2.
1872 - PHOTOGRAPHS OF HILL END.
Mr. MERLIN begs to inform the mining community, and others interested in the above locality, the series of PHOTOGRAPHS taken by him during the last few weeks are THIS DAY ON VIEW at the A. and A. Photo. Rooms, 324, George Street. Mr. CARLISLE will receive orders for the as-ove. Plates issued from the above office may be depended upon as correct.
An illustrated supplement accompanies the present issue of the Sydney Mail. The subject is "Hawkins Hill Proper." To this locality and its neighbourhood, perhaps more public interest is now attached than to any other locality in this country — an interest shared by the whole of the colonists, and one that in the metropolis has developed into such excitement as to subordinate almost all other enterprises to that of gold mining, and so far to dazzle every section of the community with the hopes of speedily-acquired riches as to draw from them an immense amount of capital.
The success of Paxton and Holman, Krohmann, Beyers and Holterman, Brown, and many others, was no doubt calculated to revive a mania for gold mining; but the mode of proceeding had to be altered from that in vogue when alluvial diggings were the only resort of gold-seekers. Yet with the feet patent to all that much unremunerative reefing work must be done before the gold presents itself in sufficient quantities to pay, and that in many in stances it may not pay at all, the public mind, after the first feverous impulse, has settled down to grapple with the difficulties and risk the chances by employing its money in the practical work demanded. Thus, for many miles round the scene shown in our supplement, the hills are being penetrated by thousands of miners, some getting gold bearing stone of various degrees in richness, but the mass of them having but the hopes of acquisition to support perseverance on lines to which previous finds have guided them, it will be fortunate if they hit upon reefs that will rival those of Hawkins Hill. None have yet approached them in the quantity of auriferous stone brought to light, or in the average yield per ton. Our picture is but an outline sketch, but whilst indicating the situation of celebrated mines, the absence of unnecessary details renders the main features more distinct. If the view is not highly artistic, it has the merit of accuracy, its lines having been carefully copied from an excellent photograph taken by Mr. Merlin, of the Australian and American Photographic Company. The mines embraced in the sketch are some of the most important on the Western fields, as must be perceived by the well known names.
The index figures will guide our readers to the relative positions of the various points of interest. For a description ot the locality we would refer our readers to the first portion of an article from our Hill End correspondent on page 619.
1872 - Views of Hawkins' Hill. NO. 2.
WE herewith present our readers with a view of a section of Hawkins' Hill, showing some of the most remarkable features of that wonderful auriferous mountain. The most prominent claims here depicted are:—
1. Bromley's
2. Paxton and Holman's3. Rampant Lion (Vickery's)4. Creighton and Beard's5. Hickson and Beard's6. Cook, Attwood, and Dwyer's7. Brown's8. Vickery's9. Rawsthorne and Porters'.
The accompanying illustration, like that published last week, is from a photograph by Beaufoy Merlin, Esq., and being engraved to scale, may be depended upon for its perfect accuracy.
IN these days of mining excitement when everbody talks about quartz crushing and quartz crushing machinery, it will probably interest many of our readers to know what a quartz crushing machine is like.
To give a correct idea to those who have never seen one would be very difficult if not impossible without the aid of the engraver. We have accordingly had the accompanying view of one of the most improved and efficient of these machines prepared. It represents Messrs. *Pullen and Rawsthorne's quartz crushing battery in Clarke-street, Hill End. We believe that, with the exception of Mr. Chappel's, it is the only quartz crushing machine in that township, the other mills being placed in various more or less distant localities in the neighbourhood. We present our readers with a view of the battery as housed, from a photograph taken on the spot by Mr. Beaufoy Merlin. The machinery was manufactured by Messrs. P. N. Russell and Co., of Sydney, and is driven hy a horizontal high pressure steam-engine of 15-horse power, nominal; the steam being generated in a 20-horse power Cornish boiler with a single flue.
Pullen and Rawsthorne's "Little Wonder" Stamper Battery, opposite the southern end of Clarke Street, Hill End
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW
The battery has fifteen head of stampers, each weighing 1 cwt, and they are fitted with screwed spindles and discs for regulating the fall of the stampers. The cams or wipers are of wrought iron with steel faces. The ripple tables, three in number, one to each box of five head of stampers, are constructed of clear pine. The mercury wells are of cast iron, with adjusting slides of copper.
The total length of the battery is 10 feet, each ripple table 4 feet wide in thc clear, and 20 feet long, including copper plates, ripples and blanket-tables.
The machine is furnished with an amalgamating barrel for the blanket-stuff and an improved mercury concentrator, also the usual pumps and tanks for supplying water to the tables and boxes, Self-acting feed hoppers arc provided for each stamper box.
The battery is capable of crushing about 120 to 130 tons of stone per week, and has been constructed in such a manner as to give satisfaction to the proprietors, and to reflect credit upon the manufacturing firm.
It may be incidentally mentioned as evidence of the progress of mining, that Messrs. P. N. Russell and Co., have duriug the first half of this year turned out about 120 head of stampers.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 29 Jun 1872 Page 17
Fig 31
...we this week place before our readers a sketch of the fine crushing machine made for Messrs. Pullen and Rawsthome, of Hill End, by Messrs. P. N. Russell and Co., who kindly favoured us with a photograph of the crushing mill for the purpose of illustration. Nothing could better tell the tale of improvement which a few years have made than the sight of the rude implement of 1853 placed side by side with the finished piece of machinery of 1871. (Fig. 32, showing sectional view.)
Pullen and Rawsthorne's stamper battery at the southern end of Clarke Street, Hill End
1872 - JULY ADVERTISEMENT
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 95, July 13, 1872
1872 - NEWS OF THE DAY
An Art Union Distribution is about to take place at Hill End, under the auspices of the A. and A. Photographic Company.
Source: Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Thu 15 Aug 1872 Page 2
On 30 October 1872, Merlin wrote an artcle about Holtermann titled "Perseverance Rewarded.—Mr. J. O. Holterman" which was prodcued in various newspapers throughout November. Reproduced here.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 2 Nov 1872 Page 15
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 2 Nov 1872 Page 15
When Mr. Merlin wrote his interesting and useful sketch (on the 30th Oct.), the crowning yield of Beyers and Holterman's claim was yet in the future. It is now an accomplished fact, and, taken in conjunction with Mr. Merlin's narrative, the whole may be regarded as surpassing any chapter in the Arabian Nights, even if we do not pay due regard to the important circumstance that in one case everything is fact, and that in the other everything is fiction. In conclusion, we have merely room to say that we cordially agree with Mr. Merlin, in terminating his labour of love, when he remarks:—
"Such a life as Mr. Holterman's, and his ultimate rewards, furnish an excellent example to young men, who are too apt to succumb to the first blows of adversity. It would be well for them if they imitated the energy, directness of purpose, manly integrity, and public spirit of Julius Otto Holterman."
Mr. Merlin's sketch, accompanied by a photograph of Mr. Holterman, will be found in the 'Town and Country Journal' of November 2nd.
Source: The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 - 1954) Sat 16 Nov 1872 Page 4
Source: The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 - 1954) Sat 16 Nov 1872 Page 4
1872 - GALLERY OF COLONIAL VIEWS AND PRODUCTS.
The Bathurst Times states, that with the view of extending the knowledge of the inexhaustible mineral wealth, of Australia, Mr. Holtermann has entered into an arrangement with Beaufoy Merlin (the artist in photographic landscape taking), by which the latter gentleman is to take panoramas and views of all the towns in the colonies, to form a gallery which will give those at a distance a far better idea of what the colonies are like than all the paragraphs fifty writers could deluge English aud European papers with. In addition to this, Mr. Merlin is empowered to buy up all the most interesting specimens he can obtain, of all the minerals each particular district of the colonies produce,—gold, silver, tin, copper, coal, &c. A great addition to this exhibition will be some magnificent gold specimens, purchased by Mr. Holtermann from the Beyers and Holtermann claim—£5000 worth in all. A number of wax models of Australian flora will be added to a collection which, for originality and design, and grandeur of conception, has rarely been equalled. The views taken by Mr. Merlin will be presented to the public in the form of magnificent transparent pictures—a new invention in photography, of which Mr. Merlin alone possesses the secret in the colonies.
This grand colonial collection, when exhibited in London and the cities of Europe and America, will do more to call public attention to the vast riches and home comforts of Australia than all the Agents-General the Governments of the colonies can send. That Mr. Merlin will give a most vivid and life-like representation of our homes and cities, cannot be doubted, and when he has at his command the wealth which Mr. Holtormann is ready to disburse as his part in the contract, we are sure that the idea will be carried out in a satisfactory manner.
1873 - HOLTERMAN'S INTERCOLONIAL EXPOSITION
1873 - [DEATH]
An enterprise from a private source has been stored which promises to repay the originator, and do honour to the colony. Mr. Holterman, one of the most successful claim holders of Hawkins Hill, has projected a display of the country's resources on a scale and in a manner that must attract considerable attention. Mr. Holterman's scheme proposes the holding in Australia of an Intercolonial Exposition in five classes, and to then send an agent with the exhibits to the principal cities of Europe; and thus show what a vast field for industrial effort these Southern lands open to an energetic class of emigrants. One of the principal sections will be a collection of minerals, including gold, copper, tin, iron, coal, bituminous shale, precious stones, and curious specimens of the country's geological formation. A great addition to this depart ment will be £5000 worth of gold specimens from Beyer and Holtermann's claim, Hawkin's Hill.
The next section in importance is the photograph exhibition. Mr. Holtermann has entered into an arrangement with Mr. Beaufoy Merlin, (whose great fame as a landscape photographic taker is generally acknowledged), by which the latter gentleman is to take panoramas and views of all the towns and gold-fields in the colonies, in order to form a gallery which will give those at a distance a vivid and life-like representation of our homes and cities. The views taken by Mr. Merlin will be presented to the public in the form of magnificent transparent pictures—a now invention in photography, which of Mr Merlin possesses the secret. There will be also albums of each town and gold-field, containing statistical information and other valuable matter. Section 3 will show the agricultural progress of the colony. This, will be indicated by exhibits of cereals from different districts, together with samples of Australian produce, sugar, tobacco, wool, cotton, and silk. There will be also models of fruit, made natural size. Wax models will represent the flora of Australia.
Section 4 will contain models of the best machinery used at the principal gold-fields and quartz reefs of the colony; also models of gold saving appliances. Section 5 will illustrate the fauna of the country, including stuffed specimens of birds and quadrupeds. Altogether it will be seen that it is the intention of Mr. Holtermann, aided by Mr. Merlin, to give this intercolonial exposition a popular tone, which must specially commend itself to the masses in the cities of Europe.
1873 - Holtermann's Exposition.
"Numerous are the questions as to the whereabouts of New South Wales in the Exhibition, and as numerous are the expressions of regret and displeasure that that colony has not thought fit to put in an appearance. It really is a great pity, for most of the visitors will go away under the idea that there is no such country, and by not exhibiting here New South Wales has fallen back twenty years at least. It is all very well to be apathetic about these things, but if whole kingdoms think it worth while to send their best things to struggle, in the race, surely it is as necessary for a colony to show the world what it possesses as inducements to settlers.
It is the greater pity because the Germans are greatly interested in Australia, and the courts are crowded daily with successive groups asking question, delivering little lectures, and taking notes, as though they really wanted to know all about it. Such an exhibition as this appeals particularly to the German mind, which is fond of the natural sciences, and the number of people who linger over the mineralogy and natural history is far greater than we should find in England."
—Vienna correspondent Melbourne Argus.
Surely if one needed an apt text for a homily on the apathy and apparent indifference of the people of this colony to the display of its vast resources, he would find it in the above extract. Not only have the Victorians made themselves famous to our depreciation, but even the Queenslanders are imitating the example of the latter. It certainly needed a man of energy and means, a man of practical experience and undaunted spirit, in a word, a man like Mr. Holtermann, to stir up the stagnant waters of public apathy and infuse a little go-a-head-ism into this community.
Why should we not display the country's resources in conspicuous places, show to the over-crowded nations of Europe what a fine field there is here for honest labour and the investment of capital ? It pains one to note the listlessness with which people hear about an exhibition, in which varied specimens of the country's mineral treasures, of her unrivaled timber, of her infant industries will be brought together, and made clear to all who take the trouble of opening their eyes.
On social, commercial, and political grounds it is the bounden duty of the people of New South Wales to prove to the world that she has within her territory the material of future greatness; and it is to be hoped all men of true patriotic spirit in the colony will co-operate with Mr. Holtermann in demonstrating on a large scale the country's wealth, and its attractiveness as a scene of industrial operations. I cannot, up to the present time, boast of much sympathy on the part of the community with Mr. Holtermann's comprehensive scheme; but I have reason to think when its extent, and the more obvious results likely to arise from it, become better known, the people generally will appreciate what is being done for them. How much more telling will the exhibition of the country's resources be when displayed in every county town of the United Kingdom and principal cities of Europe, than mere statistical statements, Agent-generals' letters, or the speeches of paid lecturers.
I firmly believe that thousands will yet be attracted hither by the Holtermann display, who would not otherwise leave the old world, or if they did, would seek a new home in the United States of America.
BEAUFOY MERLIN
1873 - [BATHURST]
Mr. Merlin is photographing Bathurst for Holtermann'a Exposition.Source: Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW : 1859 - 1889) Tue 15 Apr 1873 Page 3
1873 - [ORANGE]
[From our special reporter] While on my road, close to Orange, I met the equipage of Mr. Beaufoy Merlin, the photographer and collector for Holtemann's intended Grand Exhibition. Mr. Merlin is sparing neither time nor pains, taking views of all places of interest throughout the districts he travels, and obtaining specimens of various industries en route. The object is a noble one, and bids fair to be a grand success.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thu 24 Apr 1873 Page 3 1873 - DEATH OF MR. BEAUFOY MERLIN.
The numerous friends of the above gentleman throughout the colony will learn with deep regret that he died, after a very short illness, on Saturday afternoon, of inflammation of the lungs supervening upon the epidemic (a kind of influenza) which has lately been so general in Sydney. Mr. Merlin had won the esteem of a wide circle of friends by his great kindness of heart, and singularly unpretentious, straight-forward, and genial character. Energetic, temperate, and active to a remarkable degree, his unexpected decease will surprise as well as grieve all to whom he was known. As a photographic artist he was almost without a rival, while his talents as a writer were of a very superior kind, although want of leisure greatly interfered with his literary tastes.
MERLIN—At his residence, Abercrombie House, Abercrombie-street, Henry Beaufoy Merlin, Esq., after a short but painful illness, aged 43 years, deeply regretted by a large circle of friends.
1953 - Old Photographs Tell Story Of Gold Rush
Henry Lawson underestimated the power of the camera when he asked wistfully: "Oh, who would paint a goldfield, and limn the picture right?" He was remembering the Gulgong goldfields of the 1870s—but forgetting a photographer, Beaufoy Merlin, who had limned the picture of those roaring years on thousands of negatives.
MERLIN'S photographs, recovered from a Chatswood shed where they lay neglected for more than 40 years, will be shown at the Mitchell Library next month. They belong to a collection gathered in the 1870s by Bernhard Otto Holtermann, the Hill End miner who found the world's largest specimen of reef gold in 1872. After this find—a 630lb lump of metal which yielded 11,000 ounces of gold—Holtermann could afford to hire a photographer, Beaufoy Merlin, to gather material for an exhibition of Australian photographs which he planned to hold in Britain.
Merlin, who had already taken hundreds of photographs in Gulgong during 1871, accepted this commission and took his photographer's caravan to Hill End. Although his health was failing, Merlin worked hard at Hill End before returning to Sydney in April, 1873. Five months later, at the age of 43, he died of "an inflammation of the lungs."
His assistant, an able photographer named Charles Bayliss, carried on Holtermann's project during the next three years by photographing streets, buildings and industries in Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, Carcoar and Dubbo. Bayliss's photographs were fine examples of large wet-plate photography; but Merlin's smaller negatives taken on the goldfields of Gulgong and Hill End form the more interesting section of the Holtermann collection. Bayliss photographed panoramas of cities; Merlin focused his wet plate camera on people.
Story Of Find
In 1876, Holtermann successfully exhibited many of these photographs in England. They attracted much attention; but little was heard of them after Holtermann's death.
Credit for recovering the photographs belongs to Mr. Vyvyan Curnow, a member of the staff of the Australasian PhotoReview, a magazine published by Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd.
During 1951 Mr. Curnow was preparing an article on the Holtermann collection. He found some photographs from the collection at the Mitchell Library and was told that Holtermann's daughter was still living at Chatswood.
In December, Mr. Curnow visited the Holtermann home and found that Mrs. Holtermann had died two months before. Her son, Mr. Bernhard Holtermann, told Mr. Curnow that there were some photographs in a shed behind the house. Mr. Curnow and Mr. Holtermann broke the lock on the shed and found the Holtermann collection—3,000 negatives neatly packed in cedar boxes.
Mr. Holtermann decided to donate the negatives to the Mitchell Library. Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd. developed and enlarged selected negatives which will be exhibited during March at the library.
The 1870s, as Henry Lawson has written, were years "when finds of wondrous treasure set all the South ablaze." The calm solitude of Gulgong was broken in April, 1870, when a man named Tom Saunders galloped down to the police station at the Two Mile Flat to report the discovery of gold.
By June, 500 people had camped on the diggings at Adam's Lead, and by January of the following year the population had grown to 3,000. Other discoveries followed at Happy Valley, Caledonian and Canadian Leads and Home Rule, and by the end of 1872 there were 20,000 people on the fields.
Within four years the miners had won 300,000 ounces of gold which fetched £3/17/6 an ounce. The name Gulgong—corrupted to Goolgong, Gilgong, Gulegong or Golgong—was on every miner's tongue.
Hub Of World!
"Why, man, there is nothing like it!" said a young English clergyman on first seeing the gold town. "The scene from here is immense, exhilarating. Yes, Gulgong is the hub of the world!"
"And another clergyman from Sydney: "It fills me with amazement. The order and good temper of these rough-looking men, the continual motion, the noise, the glare and glitter in your main thoroughfare, the picturesqueness of it all and the untold possibilities."
For all this, Gulgong was a primitive community. One visitor described the town of poles and box-bark as the ugliest-looking town he ever saw. "It might have been picturesque, but it was abominably mean looking." he said.
Ugly or picturesque, Gulgong and Hill End were alive and vigorous. The cry of "Rush oh!" had attracted Bulgarians, Greeks, Scots, Americans, Canadians, Irishmen and Chinese, as well as native-born Australians. It was a long trip from Sydney to Gulgong; but the trip was worthwhile for hundreds of miners. They travelled by train from Sydney to Wallerawang, by mail coach to Mudgee, and by Tom Tarrant's coach or horseback to Gulgong.
Gulgong's 30 hotels did a roaring trade in beer and whisky. One miner gained a reputation by taking 80 nips of whisky in a day; another achieved the same fame by drinking 10 gallons of beer.
The click of billiard balls came from saloons and the sound of concertinas, accordions, flutes and tin whistles filled the night air. Miners crowded into Sawbridge's "cafe chantant" to be served cafe au lait by girls dressed in shorts and tights.
Theatre Shows
The theatres offered burlesque ("Aladdin the Wonderful Scamp"), drama ("Oliver Twist") and lectures (Mrs. Constable replying to "Edith O'Gorman, the Escaped Nun"). But housing conditions were poor. Most miners were content to live in bark shanties for a few years before moving on to another field.
New South Wales was swollen with the profits of gold and wool at the start of the 1870s and its citizens could feel the latent vigour of their new continent stirring around them. Cockiness and self-confidence are perhaps the most striking features of Merlin's photographs.
There is the genially ferocious butcher, holding knife and steel and wearing a striped shirt, leather apron and Stetson hat. A customer, striped-trousered legs apart, thumbs in belt and hat pulled down over one eye at a jaunty angle, stands grinning outside L. J. Hart's tobacco shop at Hill End. A mother stands with her children outside a rude bark hut which she has tried to improve with lace curtains.
Merlin took the only known photograph of an Australian gold-strike. The members of the syndicate are standing in front of the forge, their leader holding a pan in which three nuggets are clearly visible. A neatly dressed mining warden's clerk, who has obviously just arrived, holds a shovel and looks officiously at the camera. Behind the forge, near the shaft, a red flag has been hoisted to indicate that a strike has been made.
Fossickers still chance upon gold at Gulgong to-day; but the time of red flags has passed.
"But golden days are vanished, and altered is the scene," wrote Henry Lawson, "The diggings are deserted, the camping-grounds are green."
But Beaufoy Merlin and Bernhard Holtermann have helped to preserve the picture.
1874 - Photography, Photography.
H. TOOSE, ARTIST. PHOTOGRAPHER, FROM the American and Australasian Photo Company, FOR A FEW WEEKS ONLY.
H. Toose begs to intimate that his Glass Studio is Now Opened, and he is prepared to take portraits in a brilliant and lifelike style. Views of every description taken to order.
Note the address—Hain's Royal Hotel, COOMA.
