Charles Kerry, Kerry & Co. (Australia) photographs

Charles Kerry was a professional photographer and owner of the successful photographic firm Kerry and Co. He was born in Bombala, New South Wales, in 1857. In 1874, he joined the small portrait studio of Alexander Henry Lamartiniere in Sydney. He was made a partner in 1883, but Lamartiniere absconded from the business in 1884, taking Kerry's capital with him. Kerry continued to run the company in partnership with C. D. Jones, and eventually renamed it Kerry and Co.

Kerry and Co became one of the largest photographic businesses in Australia. They specialized in portraits, but also photographed Sydney scenery and society, and were active in the postcard business. Kerry was also commissioned to photograph a variety of subjects, including Aboriginal people and ceremonies, pastoral stations, and the interiors of the Jenolan and Yarrangobilly caves.

By 1900, Kerry and Co were the major photographers for illustrations in the Sydney more... press. Kerry retired in 1913 to dedicate himself to his mining interests in Malaysia and Thailand. He was also a pioneer snow sportsman and contributed to the establishment of ski fields in the Jindabyne and Kosciusko area.

Kerry died in Sydney in 1928. His photographs are an important record of life in Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are held in the collections of the National Library of Australia, the State Library of New South Wales, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. less...