Historical information

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918.
Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Significance

An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.

Physical description

Albumen Silver Photograph, mounted on Board.

Inscriptions & markings

printed in ink on support l.c.: CENTRAL AVENUE, FITZROY GARDENS / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED.
printed in ink on support reverse c.: VIEWS OF VICTORIA. / (GENERAL SERIES.) / No. 2. / CENTRAL AVENUE, FITZROY GARDENS. / The Fitzroy Gardens have, for several years past, become one of the most popular places for public resort- / attributable, no doubt, to the great variety of picturesque scenes they contain. Shrubs and flower plants, of almost / every description, can be seen growing in rich profusion within the enclosures, studded here and there with choice / pieces of statuary. The subject of the present illustration is but one of the many to be found within their precincts. / The distance of these gardens from the Melbourne Post Office is about one mile.
printed in ink on support reverse l.c.l.: J.W. FORBES, Agent,
printed in ink on support reverse l.c.: ANGLO-AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, MELBOURNE.
printed in ink on support reverse l.c.r.: 10 Temple Court, Collins Street West.