Photographers of Maitland

Baxter, Robert

Maitland  :  1878

The description of Baxter recorded in Design and Art Australia Online is that of a professional photographer,
“…undoubtedly as a travelling rather than resident photographer. Baxter appears to have had stayed nowhere very long during a photographic career that extended from at least 1866 to the end of the century.” [1]         
It was November and December of 1878 when Baxter’s business brought him briefly to Maitland, evidenced by his advertising in the Maitland Mercury.

MR. R. BAXTER, photographic Artist of extensive Colonial and British experience,
begs to acquaint the inhabitants of Maitland and surrounding district that the has
COMMENCED BUSINESS in those premises well and favourably known for many
years as HART'S GALLERY, High-street, West Maitland, where he will practice his
art in all its branches, from miniature to life-size portraiture.
BUSINESS will COMMENCE TO-DAY (the 12th November.)

The Show Room will be fitted up in about Fourteen Days with a variety of local subjects. [2]

Baxter's subsequent advertisement declared:

            Photos. for the Million!
            At R. BAXTER’S Studio, next the Post Office - late Hart’s Gallery – West Maitland. 
            Cartes 5s. 6d. per half dozen All photos. Proportionately cheap.
            Enlargements to Life sized, finished in oil, water colours or crayons. [3]  

Baxter presumably remained in Maitland longer than his 1878 advertising would indicate, since the portrait of Mr. C. Molloy (above) was catalogued by the State Library of New South Wales as the year 1899, however the date appears to have been overwritten with 1879. [4]