Curio

State Library of New South Wales
B.O. Holtermann

B.O. Holtermann

1875
Glass photonegative

In this 1875 studio portrait, Holtermann supports his hand on a photographer’s headrest, used to steady the subject during lengthy exposures. This image was combined with an 1872 photograph of ‘Holtermann’s nugget’ to produce a montage of Holtermann with his gold specimen. Holtermann had escaped military service in Prussia, emigrating to Sydney in 1858. Not speaking English, he took a range of menial jobs, before prospecting with Louis Beyers on Hawkins Hill in 1861.

From Frank Shellard in The Queenslander 24 Jan 1914

Holtermann “was a natty little German with a wax-pointed moustache, and always dressed as if he had just come out of a band box, and strutting about, proud as a peacock. Publicity was his religion, and he always contrived to have his name before the public for something clever that he had done.” [Frank Shellard in The Queenslander 24 Jan 1914 p8]