Samuel Bowering Marchant was the oldest surviving son of photographer Philip Marchant (q.v.). He was born in Adelaide on 26 June 1870 and in 1882 the family moved to Gawler where his father opened a portrait studio. In addition to his normal schooling Samuel Marchant received special training from Mr Levy, the head draftsman at James Martin’s heavy engineering works at Gawler, and from F.W. Heaps, an architect. He worked as a painter and decorator at Balaklava where some of his relatives were living. In 1887 he went to Latrobe in Tasmania where his father opened a photographic studio.
On 3 June 1887 the Gawler Bunyip reported:
News from an Old Friend. – We have been shown a letter from Mr P.J. Marchant, who left here for Tasmania. He, with his son Sam, have taken up their residence in La Trobe, Tasmania, where Mr Marchant intends to start his old line as a photographer. These is no other photographer there, although the place is as large as Gawler. His son, Sam, has taken to signwriting and is achieving success, earning nine shillings a day. What is thought of his work may be understood from the following clipping from a Launceston paper: ‘A young man, not quite a new chum in Latrobe, is literally beautifying certain stores with an ornamental and improved style of letter writing’.
While in Tasmania he won three first prizes for painting and graining at the Ulverstone Exhibition.
Samuel Marchant married a Latrobe girl, Ethel Piper, on 25 December 1894 and on the following day left for Balaklava in South Australia where he established a painting and decorating business. He also opened a portrait studio and was listed as a photographer and signwriter at Balaklava in directories from 1900 to 1913. By 1905 he was also well established as a coach painter, and a feature article in the illustrated supplement of the Kapunda Herald for 2 June 1905 said that eleven vehicles in his workshop were in various stages of ‘decorative renovation’, and that he had done work for some of the most influential men in the district. He also kept a spare vehicle on hand to be used by customers while their own was being painted.
When referring to his photography the Herald said:
One wonders how Mr Marchant finds the time to attend to the photographic branch of his business. Mr Marchant explained that he had to be very methodical. He has reserved one day per week for finishing all photographic work. Of course, he takes photos at any time that patrons choose to appoint, but that part of the business only takes a few minutes. Customers may have their portraits taken, enlarged, painted in oils, and framed on the premises. He keeps a horse and vehicle to attend wedding parties, and for photographing family groups.
His wife Ethel died in June 1904, and on 6 April 1907 he married Audrey Blanche Sumner at Mallala. He had two daughters from his first marriage and another three after he re-married.
Samuel Marchant also wrote illuminated addresses, prepared plans and specifications for builders, and supervised the erection of buildings. By 1910 he had become interested in the use of concrete as a building material for walls as well as floors and had begun submitting applications for a variety of designs from race starters and indicators to concrete mixers and elevators, some of which were granted. By 1913 most of his time was being spent on building construction, both in Adelaide and at Balaklava, and his photographic studio had been leased by J. Wooler. He eventually moved to Adelaide where he worked as a painter, signwriter and building contractor and died there on 1 August 1850.
Text taken from:
Noye, R.J. (2007) Dictionary of South Australian Photography 1845-1915, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. CD-ROM, p.200.
- Writers:
-
Nerina_Dunt
- Date written:
- 2013
- Last updated:
- 2013
