professional photographer, worked for Algernon Hall at Beechworth, Victoria, before opening his own photographic studio in Swift Street, Albury, New South Wales, in October 1865, called 'The Albury Photographic Establishment’. His monopoly was upset when a travelling photographer from the American & Australasian Photographic Company (see Henry Beaufoy Merlin) arrived at Albury in September 1869 and announced his intention to 'photograph every home in the township’. Thomas responded by advertising his preparedness 'TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF PARTICULAR VIEWS or BUILDINGS on the shortest notice, from the carte-de-visite size up to 16 in by 18 in [41 × 46 cm]’.
On 22 December he advertised 'Thomas’s Grand Art Union of Photographs’ with large photographs of Albury and local scenery as prizes. The art union was limited to 150 subscribers at 10s 6d per ticket. As well as the chance of winning one of the forty-eight prize photographs, every ticket-holder was to be individually photographed, four cartes-de-visite or one cabinet portrait being included in the ticket price. When the lottery was drawn in early February 1870 (subscribers’ portraits being taken throughout January and, belatedly, during the first week of February), Thomas announced that he would close the studio for several months, presumably to travel to outlying towns. He was calling in debts in March and by early April H. Wood was operating from his rooms.
Thomas soon returned and opened the Albury Portrait Gallery in Swift Street in May, announcing that 'the new studio is built on the principle approved of and adopted by the most eminent Parisian photographers and is such as to ensure the best and most satisfactory results’. He also had a portable photographic gallery (tent) which he used locally and with which he travelled to regional areas. In the Border Post on 21 December 1870 he advertised the presence of 'Thomas’ moveable gallery’ at the Boxing Day Fête, stating that 'Officers and Members of the different Societies can be taken, and their regalia colored’.
On 29 March 1871 the Border Post noted that Thomas had recently fitted up a darkroom inside his portable gallery and was photographing Albury buildings. Some of the results were already on display in the newspaper office and their viewing, purchase and despatch was recommended as a weapon to counteract the unfavourable impression that George Milner Stephen's controversial drawing of the town was thought to have created when published in the Illustrated Sydney News. Thomas advertised on 17 May 1871 that he was presently 'visiting the outlying districts’ but would return to Albury on the 29th to re-open the gallery for business.
- Writers:
- Callaway, Anita
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
