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professional photographer, was working from premises in Brisbane Street, Launceston in 1860 when he advertised 'every description of photographic portraiture’ on paper (wet-plate albumen prints) and glass (ambrotypes). In 1862 he announced that his 'Alabastrine Portrait Gallery’ had moved to Cameron Street, to the studio previously occupied by the painter Frederick Strange , where as well as 'the newly-invented alabastrine portraits’ he was offering 'every description of photographic likenesses, at greatly reduced prices, either on paper, glass, or leather, in frames, cases, brooches, lockets, or breast-pins; together with the very fashionable carte de visite and album portraits, so suitable for presents or sending by post’. He also copied, enlarged or reduced 'Oil paintings, photographs, or daguerreotypes’. According to Moore, Strange 'worked as daguerreotype tinter and retoucher with a Mr. C.A.H. Williamson’ – but if he stayed on it was not to colour 'daguerreotypes’, then virtually obsolete. Unless Moore was just using the term loosely Williamson and Strange may have worked together earlier; Strange advertised both oil and daguerreotype portraits at the beginning of 1855.

In any case, Williamson did not remain long in Cameron Street; Lake and Mulford note that the premises are not shown in the Launceston Assessment Rolls for 1862 and there is no further record of Williamson as a photographer. He was later a successful merchant in Launceston and also owned the Federal Hotel, 5 Brisbane Street, Launceston in the 1880s. He then moved to Sydney.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

1989