Photographers of Maitland

The purchase of Audet's business by Morris Moss in September 1864 marks a major change for both Moss and Audet. [1]

The services of Audet are to be retained until January of 1865, then in February Audet publishes a lengthy advertisement regarding construction of a new gallery in Maitland. [2]

A few brief advertisements appear in March 1865 and then the business is offered for sale in December, in the Sydney newspaper, the Empire. [3] Without the business being sold, advertising resumes in November 1866.

Towards the end of 1866, Audet advertises under the title “Photographic Company” opposite the Bank of New South Wales. [4]

By May of 1867 Audet is again trading under the name of Great Northern Photographic and Fine Art Company (as distinct from the former Great Northern Photographic Company) with premises opposite the Bank of N.S.W. in High Street, Maitland and in Hunter Street, Newcastle. [5] 

A month later, the Great Northern Photographic and Fine Art Company is referred to as 'late J. Audet'. [6] 

After erecting a new building in Hunter Street, Newcastle, in June 1867, newspaper articles indicate Newcastle as Audet's  location through to the early 1870s. [7] 

Sale of the leasehold of the Newcastle property as well as “all the household furniture, goods, chattels and effects” alludes to financial difficulties for Audet in November 1872. [8]   Reappearing in Maitland a year later, Audet builds a new gallery, situated opposite the Maitland Mercury office.

NEW BUILDING-Mr Jacob Audet, photographer, who some years ago carried on business in West Maitland, is at present engaged in erecting a wooden building in High-street, between Mr G Moore's and Mrs McLaughlin's, which he purposes occupying as a portrait gallery. It says something for Mr Audet's pluck and enterprise in entering the lists in competition with the establishments of a similar kind already in Maitland. There are at present four photographers in businesses in the town.[9]
The other photographers operating at this time would be Curtis, Hart, Kline and Moss.

The flood of January of 1874 provides some business for Audet, with '24 interesting views taken during the height of the flood' available as souvenirs. [10] Audet later states that his are “genuine views of the late flood (not 1870)” implying that other photographers in town had misled the public with ‘old’ views. [11]

Audet’s final advertisement in the Maitland Mercury is on 28 May 1874 and by December of that year his Newcastle studio in Hunter Street appears in the Newcastle Chronicle. [12] Reports of the insolvency court in October 1874 indicate financial difficulties. [13] By August 1876 Audet is residing in Sydney.

Audet continues business in Sydney until his death in 1901.