Historical information

William Bear, Photographer operated from 145 Smith Street, Fitzroy from 1877 to 1882. Prior to that the address was occupied by F.C. Burman to 1876 and followed by W. Latimer in 1883 (Sands Melbourne Directory)

Marg Ball suggested the fellow may possibly be a Kidd. Put side by side with Sarah Ann Shillinglaw (nee Kidd) and he certainly could be a brother.

Looking at Sarah and her siblings, 2nd eldest William seems the most/only candidate given the date of the photo.

William Bear only operated from 145 Smith St., Fitzroy from 1877 through 1882. The fashion/hair/whiskers suggest it is moving out of the 1870s and into the 1880s so it is fairly reasonable to suggest circa 1880 for the photo. At that time, William would be 27 – looks right. The only other two brothers, Samuel and Matthew had both died as youngsters years earlier.

Further, the placement of the photo in the album on the opposite page to the only photo of Sarah suggests there is a close relationship.

CARTE-DE-VISITE (cdv) 1857-1890
Cartes-de-visite (cdv's) are the most common form of photograph from the nineteenth century, generally measuring two and a half inches by four and an eighth inches (6.3 x 10.5 cm) when mounted, sepia toned, mounted on a card which was generally printed with the photographer's name and address on the back or beneath the portrait.
- Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991

Physical description

Carte-de-visite (Approx 2 1/2 x 4 1/8 inches or 6.3 x 10.5 cm)
Digital file only, scanned from album in private collection