professional photographer, advertised his photographic gallery in George Street, Sydney – three doors from John Flavelle 's jewellery shop – in June 1861 when he was offering a 'correct likeness’ for 3s 6d upwards. In September and October he merely stated that his was 'the cheapest and best house in Sydney for portraits’. By 1864 Yates was charging 10s for three cartes-de-visite. The business seems to have been relatively prosperous and he continued as a studio photographer until 1883, moving in March 1866 'to more commodious premises’ at 432 George Street above Hebblewhite’s shop (four doors north of the Royal Hotel), formerly a branch studio for Charles Percy Pickering . Here a dozen cartes-de-visite cost £1 in 1866, a drop in price which was universal as photography became simpler and vastly more competitive. By 1868 a dozen cartes from Yates cost only 7s 6d, cabinet-size portraits being double; in 1873 they had dropped again, to 5s a dozen.

John Yates was related to another Sydney photographer, William H. Yates. He was probably William’s son, for they both lived at 1 Devonshire Place, South Head Road, Paddington, in 1858-59, at which time William alone was listed as a photographer. William’s Sydney career was earlier and briefer and he never seems to have advertised as John did. First listed at 40 George Street South in March 1855, William had moved to 39 King Street by 1857 and continued in the same street (at number 99) until 1862, after which date there is no sign of him. Early in 1864 John was advertising for sale three different cameras: stereoscopic, half-plate and quarter-plate. Since he did not otherwise sell photographic equipment these may perhaps have belonged to the late (or merely retired) William Yates. John continued to live at Paddington, his private residence in 1867 being in Old South Head Road (now Oxford Street).

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

2011