Ballarat Photo Mystery

[JoyceMH]

My ggrandmother bought this photo with her few belongings when she emmigrated to NZ 1884. We have no idea who the men in it are but we know it was taken at Dore' Ballarat pre 1884.Does anyone have any idea about the photo studio, what years it may have been taken in etc. Would love to shed some light on it. Thanks

[philipsearching]

There is a website http://www.ballaratphotography.com.au/photography-portfolio/ballarat-history/ which has an e-mail contact.  It could be worth contacting them.

Also - it may be worth putting a link to this thread on the photo dating board https://www.rootschat.com/forum/free-photo-restoration/ to see if an approximate date can be given for the clothes.

I haven't found anything on the Dore Studio, but I would suggest that the photographer may have been French and went to Ballarat to cash in on the gold rush ("Dore" can be translated as "golden").

As an ironic footnote - much of the gold discovered by prospectors found its way into the pockets of merchants (selling food, tools and clothes), saloonkeepers, 'ladies of easy virtue', professional gamblers, and doubtless some photographers!  Relatively few prospectors ended up wealthy.

Hope this helps
Philip

[Finley 1]

wow

thanks for that link

important to my research x

xin

[jennifer c]

I would guess the man on the left is the father and they are his sons. They all seem to have the same flick to the left side of and their hair line.

Jennifer

[Jeanette H]

Hello JoyceMH,

You might also like to contact the following Links:

'Gold Museum' Ballarat (Link to the Contact Page)
http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/gold-museum-ballarat/contact-us/

'Ballarat & District Genealogical Society Inc.' (Links on Home & Contact Us Pgs.)
https://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/

'Ballarat Historical Society Inc.'
http://www.ballarathistoricalsociety.com/index.php/contact

Somehow the first two men on the Left, look very familiar to me, I am sure that I have seen their faces before,  at the present I cannot recall.  I would be very interested in knowing who they are, should you ever find out.  If I find out anything I will let you know.

Jeanette H.

[JoyceMH]

Thank you so much everyone for those leads, i will certainly try all of them.My ancestors were Kellys, Dykes and maybe Rees from that area - but would love to pin point more about this photo.

[matthewj64]

Some mentions of the Doré Studio in The Ballarat Star from 1895 to 1898
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?l-state=Victoria&sortby=dateAsc&q=%22Dore%CC%81+studio%22&l-title=185

Use of cane/rattan furniture and a potted plant as props would also fit with a 1890s date.

M

[Jeanette H]

Hello JoyceMH,

Some mentions of the Doré Studio in The Ballarat Star from 1895 to 1898
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?l-state=Victoria&sortby=dateAsc&q=%22Dore%CC%81+studio%22&l-title=185
M

(Transcript of Advertisement, in 5th Article, from Trove Link - Posted by matthewj64).
TROVE The Ballarat Star (Vic. 1865-1824) Fri. 5th July 1895, Page: 3, Advertising.

PHOTOGRAPHERS GONE MAD, THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENT.
THE DORE STUDIO.
Next General Post-office,
Is always in the lead, and defies competition lor
WORK and PRICES. Our Cabinets are still 5s doz.
One dozen Cabinets and Life-size Enlargement, 7s 6d.
Special line of  One Life-size Enlargement, framed,
complete. 5s. Proofs submitted.
Specimens of our new frames and general work on
view at Studio.

The Original 'General Post Office', was and still is situated on the corner of Lydiard St. and Sturt St. Ballarat. Although no-longer a Post Office.
So where the advertisement states - 'Next General Post-Office' - 
There are three shops in the block, to the Right of the Post Office, between Lydiard St. and Camp St., facing on to Sturt St., (on the down-side of Sturt St. - near No: 104).

If you try a Google Search on (Map Ballarat) and Browse Street View, then this may give you an idea as to where the Business, quite possibly was.

Jeanette H.

[JoyceMH]

Wow! thats all great informaion. I have emailed a few places and will google the whereabouts of the studio.