Shepparton photographers through the ages

He assured me it was and that it was proudly on display in the Furphy Museum at the Museum of Vehicle Evolution.

The photo I took is shown here (sorry about the glare on the glass).

I was particularly interested in the photo of UWB Robinson, who I featured a few weeks back and impressed by the wonderful photos of the Furphy employees Vanheems took.

I had never heard of this photographer before and was curious to find out more about him and also the other Shepparton photographers through the ages who provide a valuable visual record of our past.

After much research, with more to do, I have compiled a list of 16 commercial photographers thus far who worked in Shepparton, with most having shop-fronts or studios.

This is based on research in newspapers (on Trove) for pre-1950s and using internet searches.

I have not included the 40-plus freelance Shepparton photographers (currently listed as businesses on Google) or the many newspaper/magazine photographers over the years.

Here is the list:

Hormidgee and Gye: 1879/1880

Harry Vanheems: 1880-1892

Joseph Youdale: c1886

A. F. Hunt: c1892

George Metcalf: c1896

J. D. Peirce: 1885-c1903

Saville Whiting: c1899

Miss M. L. Smith:

Norm ‘Col’ Colliver: c1902-1958

Percy Hume: 1906-1918 postcards

Louis James Michel: 1911-1916

Loyd Telfer: 1940s-1975)

Sunny Photos: c1945-c1950

Arnold Gough: 1950s-1970s

Trevor Phillips: 1978-current

Simon Greig: 1980s-2020s

Dale and Stuart Wright: 1970s-current

The earliest Shepparton photographers I could find were B. Hormidgee (1879) and Mr Gye (1880), who were travellers who set up temporary studios (see adverts).

Harry Vanheems (see the Furphy staff photo) was previously a photographer in Kilmore and Bourke St, Melbourne, before coming to Shepparton as a traveller using a wagon as a studio.

The earliest mention of Vanheems is an 1880 Shepparton News advert of him erecting a studio (temporary) in Welsford St.

In an 1884 Argus article, he was mentioned by the Vagabond (pen-name) in his Picturesque Victoria article on the Goulburn Valley: “In Murchison ... there are five hotels, some half-dozen stores, the tallest store man in Victoria, two flour mills and at the present time the travelling portrait gallery of Mr Vanheems, of Richmond. The large covered wagon drawn up on the green under the windmill, with the mastiff Cora sunning herself on the steps, has a remarkably English appearance. This young and skilful photographer is travelling along the Goulburn Valley, taking views of all the picturesque spots, and perpetuating the features of the local celebrities and the lads and lasses, who now-a-days when righting troth, instead of breaking a sixpence, exchange portraits.”

From other articles/adverts, it seems he visits Shepparton on a number of occasions over the next few years.

The next photographer was Joseph Youdale who was a Wesleyan lay preacher in Maitland, NSW.

He had many business enterprises over the years and, in 1867, he became a partner in a photographic business and eventually sole proprietor for three years.

After this time he became a travelling photographer and eventually made his way to Shepparton and sets up business in High St in 1886.

After a couple of years he moved to Numurkah as a photographer and then back to NSW.

By 1888, Vanheems comes back to Shepparton to set up a more permanent business and leased various buildings for the next four years.

In 1892, his business takes a turn for the worse and he decides to leave to ply his trade by travelling again. He sells his Shepparton business to Arthur. F. Hunt.

Mr Hunt was a musician/actor and when he came to Shepparton (from Echuca) and joined the local musical and dramatic club.

In 1892, he purchased Vanheems’ photography business in Wyndham St.

Over the next few months I will show you the rest of the listed photographers with sample photos/adverts and some brief information.

Please send me an email if you some photographer information/photos or stories to share.