Ballard, Harrie Benjamin
Maitland : 1883-1884
Portrait of HarrieBallard
Image: National Library of Australia
Ballard’s Maitland advertising appears in April 1883, announcing that he is now in Maitland and will shortly visit Morpeth, photographing homesteads if you give him an early call. [2]
After spending time in Maitland, Ballard continues photographing subjects in the local region:
By the courtesy of Hr. H. B. Ballard, landscape photographer, we yesterday evening had an opportunity of inspecting a batch of really well executed photographic views, just finished by the artist named. While residing In Maitland, Mr. Ballard got credit for some good work, but we must confess that the pictures we saw lest evening are among the best we have yet seen Mr. Ballard turn out. Among those shown us were Duckinfield [sic] House and grounds, the residence of the Hon. John Eales ; Kaloudah House, near Lochinvar, well known as the residence of Mr. J. F. Doyle; Baroona House, and Neotsfield, the much-admired abode of Messrs. A. A. and W. J. Dangar ... [3]
References in the Maitland Mercury indicate that Ballard was in Singleton from December 1885, although he continued some travelling work, being in Muswellbrook in March 1888, intending to visit towns further north. [8]
Ballard’s images of the Dalwood vineyard and homestead were described in detail in the Maitland Mercury of 5 June 1886 and can be viewed online at the State Library of New South Wales. [9]
As with other photographers, Ballard exhibited at the local agricultural shows over a number of years, however he attained much wider recognition when exhibiting views of Singleton at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition at London in 1886. Ballard also exhibited in the 1888-89 Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition. [10]
In 1891 photographs taken by Ballard, described as ‘more than a mere photographer ‘are available from Edward Blair’s store:
One is a picture of the West Maitland Town Hall proscenium and act drop, one of the most successful interior photographed views we have ever seen, every detail comes out sharply and distinct. The other views are pictures of St Mary's Church and Parsonage, and of St. Paul's Church from the Park. Both are fine artistic pictures, and show that Mr. Ballard is something more than a mere photographer. The specimens sent us are chosen from a large number of pictures which Mr. Ballard has taken in the district. [11]
With a change of occupation Ballard became the licensee of the Caledonia Hotel at Singleton in 1889 and was lessee of the Singleton Railway Refreshment Rooms for 17 years. [14]
Harrie Ballard died in November of 1903, aged 59. [15]
https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nV24mAJn#viewer Maitland Mail Office
Images: Young solicitor, schools, Scobie family. Portrait of men, State Library Victoria. Ballard's van on punt, ca. 1885, State Library NSW.
Leeholme, https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/1l4VO0X1
Baroona, Singleton https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/9qoWGwQ1
[1] Maitland Mercury Tuesday 17 April 1883
[2] Maitland Mercury Tuesday 5 February 1884
[3] Architectural plans for Leeholme are held in the Pender Archive, University of Newcastle and are available online via the Cultural Collections Flickr website. https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/6346010586/in/
photostream/
[4] Maitland Mercury 2 January 1919
[5] Maitland Mercury Saturday 24 March 1888
[6] Dalwood https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YEGvmQVn
[7] Maitland Mercury 12 December 1885, 17 September 1887. http://www.daao.org.au/bio/h-b-ballard/
[8] Maitland Mercury 7 February 1891
[9] https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YEGvmQVn
[10] Singleton Argus 24 September 1903
[11] Singleton Argus Thursday 19 November 1903
[12] http://acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=393370
[14] Singleton Argus 24 September 1903
[15] Singleton Argus 19 November 1903