amateur photographer and surgeon, visited Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land in 1843 and delivered at least two medical lectures at the Mechanics Institute, the second being titled 'Natural Theology as Illustrated by Anatomy’s Physiology’. On 15 July Dr Udny advertised a calotype camera for sale in the Launceston Examiner , proclaiming that it 'would be a source of fortune to a young man wishing to see the world; of great value to Botanists and travellers and a delightful amusement’. Udny’s is the first camera for salted paper prints known in any of the Australian colonies. Unfortunately, no evidence has yet been found that Udny used it either to illustrate his lectures or to produce photographs in Tasmania although both seem likely.

Newton points out that a book of calotype views of St Andrew’s, Scotland, was mentioned in the Launceston press in 1844 – a possible souvenir of Udny’s visit. A more intriguing souvenir of course is the camera itself. Nobody is known to have been taking calotypes at Launceston immediately afterwards, but both William Lushington Goodwin and Rev. Charles Price were reportedly taking 'daguerreotypes’ (possibly a generic term).

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

2011