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William Henry Kretchmar…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Perth
Date:
19-Mar-2024
Lot No.
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Description:
William Henry Kretchmar 1856-1945. The Kretchmar album is an extensive collection of the photographer's work from the 1890s until 1927 and contains 244 images. A relatively unknown but highly significant early photographer, William Herman Kretschmar was born 15 November 1856 in Tasmania to Frederick and Doretta. The surname later changed to Kretchmar. He went to New Zealand and married Alice Gill in 1882 and had a Son Edmund. The family moved to Victoria and later travelled to Western Australia during the gold rush to live in Geraldton in 1891. By 1895 William was featuring in newspaper photographs of the local rowing club and in 1896 his second Son Alfred was born there. Kretchmar had practised as architect in New Zealand and continued that profession in Western Australia. The Geraldton Advertiser in 1895 sought tenders for Kretchmar's design for a shop and residence for wing on Woo & Co. In 1897 he designed a large block of buildings for D. Davies & Co on marine terrace. His passion for photography grew in 1896. Some of his photographs of Geraldton were sent to Hessen in Germany and turned into postcards. By 1903 Kretchmar operated the Fingall photographic studio in day Dawn near the great Fingall mine, at the time reputed to be the most profitable gold mine in the world. Some of the most outstanding images in the album are large prints of the mine workings, including flashlight images taken 2700 feet underground, possibly commissioned by the Company. While pursuing his photographic career Kretchmar had various jobs with local roads boards like cue and by 1916, a year after his Son Edmund was killed at Gallipoli, Kretchmar was living in Perenjori where he was secretary of the Roads board, and many photographs of that district are in the album. The album contains important photographs, often stunning copies, of day Dawn, cue, the Wilgie Mia ochre mine used by Aborigines, Nannine, lake Austin, Morowa, Millie's Soak, Greenough, Boogardie, Harvey, Irwin river, and as far away as Margaret river, Yallingup, and Bunbury, while also featuring Perth highlights such as King's park, Boans, St George's terrace, and the swan Brewery. 1925 Kretchmar moved to Claremont where he became a Jp. The latest images in the album feature the visit of hallmarked sterling Renown in 1927 to Fremantle
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified