Frederick Finch (photographer)

Frederick Finch (1835–1920) was a New Zealand carpenter and photographer. Finch worked at Green's Dockyards in England and a joiner on ships before emigrating to New Zealand. In New Zealand Finch plied his trade as a carpenter and worked on buildings such as Eichardt's Hotel and Eden Grove. Finch was also an amateur photographer, with his photographs being held in numerous collections — including Te Papa.

Finch is the man in the carriage with the child on his lap c.1910

Early life

Frederick Finch was born in Rochester, Kent, England in 1836[a] to Edward Finch, a postmaster, and Thomazin Hogben. Finch learnt carpentry and joinery and worked as an apprentice at Green's Dockyards in Chatham.[b] Finch worked as a joiner aboard the Prince of Wales and Agamemnon, taking him to Calcutta during the 1857 Indian Rebellion.[1]

Carpentry

The Glenorchy library was constructed by Finch

Finch travelled to New Zealand c.1870. Finch may have came aboard the Otago.[c] Finch travelled from Dunedin to Queenstown. Finch worked as a carpenter in Queenstown, including on Eichardt's Hotel. Despite being robbed of £138[d] Finch obtained a Camp Street section by 1876.[1]

In 1883 Finch was hired by William Mason to build Eden Grove. Finch later worked as a labourer on the property in 1898 before eventually retiring there.[2] Finch continued to ply his trade a carpenter constructing fixtures for the 1900 Queenstown Annual Horticultural and Industrial Show and constructing the Glenorchy library in 1905.[e][1] Finch died at the property on 22 December 1920 and was buried in the Glenorchy cemetery.[2] Finch never wed and had no children.[1]

Photography

A photograph of the Kawarau River taken by Finch

Finch was an avid photographer and was labelled as a 'clever knight of the camera'[f] in his obituary.[1]

The first recorded instance of Finch's photography is of the 1878 Queenstown flood. Finch published many photographs of Lake County, typically focusing on natural environments over built ones.[g] Finch continued to take photographs until 1900.[1]

Finch's works are held by the Alexander Turnbull Library, Glenorchy Museum, Lakes District Museum, Hocken Collections, and Te Papa.[1]

Finch's photographs held by Te Papa

Notes

  1. ↑ Finch's date of birth is unknown but the 1851 census listed his age as 14[1]
  2. ↑ Green's Dockyards was based in Blackwall, London so Chatham may be an error.[1]
  3. ↑ The Otago arrived 13 October.[1]
  4. ↑ $20,000 today[1]
  5. ↑ The library is still extant, although no longer in use.[1]
  6. ↑ In reference to Sir John Benjamin Stone[1]
  7. ↑ Finch has photographed Lake Wakatipu, Mt Alfred, Mt Earnslaw, Dart River, Rees River, Routeburn, Frankton, and Bullendale.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Gallagher, Sarah (2022). McKergow, Fiona; Green, David (eds.). "A 'CLEVER KNIGHT OF THE CAMERA': A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ABOUT FREDERICK FINCH, EARLY RESIDENT OF WAKATIPU" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Public History (8): 23–35. ISSN 2253-153X.
  2. 1 2 Gallagher, Sarah (13 July 2021). Paradise House (Report). Heritage New Zealand.
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