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 on board

Inscriptions & markings

printed in ink on support l.c.: VIEW ON THE RIVER MURRAY, NEAR ECHUCA, SHOWING THE RAILWAY WHARF WITH STEAMERS UNLOADING. / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED.
printed in ink on support reverse c.: VIEWS OF VICTORIA. / (GENERAL SERIES.) / No. 7. / VIEW ON THE RIVER MURRAY, NEAR ECHUCA, SHOWING THE RAILWAY WHARF WITH STEAMERS UNLOADING. / The rapidly increasing traffic on the River Murray, with wool, timber, and other colonial produce, has called / into requisition no less than 400 steamers and over 1000 barges. To meet this growing emergency the Victorian / Government has expended several thousand pounds in the erection of a Railway Wharf which during the wool- / season presents a very busy scene, the crowded steamers laden with precious clip taxing to the utmost the / powers of the Railway Department in the process of unloading. The River here is about a quarter of a mile wide, / and is from 60 to 70 feet deep.
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.