![Carte de visite. Studio of Alfred Bock, City Photographic Establishment, 140 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Town. Found in an antique shop in New Town, Hobart (for $2!). Alfred Bock (1835-1920) was one of the pioneers of Australian photography. He started taking photographs when he was a boy, when his stepfather, the convict engraver and society portraitist <a href=" http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bock-thomas-1800 " rel="noreferrer nofollow">Thomas Bock</a>, purchased a camera from a visiting Frenchman in 1843. Bock had been impressed by daguerreotypes (by <a href=" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Beard_(photographer) " rel="noreferrer nofollow">Richard Beard</a>) belonging to <a href=" http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nixon-francis-russell-2509 " rel="noreferrer nofollow">Bishop Nixon</a>, who had just arrived in the colony. Thomas Bock later established Hobart's first permanent photographic studio in 1847, his attempts in 1843 having been thwarted by <a href=" https://www.daao.org.au/bio/baron-george-goodman/biography/ ?" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Baron George Goodman</a> who was visiting Hobart and asserted his patent rights on the daguerreotype process when he saw Bock's advertisement. Alfred Bock took over the running of his stepfather's home studio in 1855, which he announced in the press one week after his death: "DAGUERREOTYPE ESTABLISHMENT, 46, CAMPBELL-STREET, Near the Penitentiary Chapel, Hobart Town. MR. ALFRED BOCK begs to inform his FRIENDS and the PUBLIC generally, that the above Establishment is conducted by him, on behalf of his Mother, and Family; and he hopes his proficiency, is sufficiently well-known to secure him that portion of public support which has so long been kindly granted to his late Father. The business is open daily from half-past nine a.m. to 4 p. m., but he would wish, both for the convenience of sitters as well as his own, a notice to be given, either the day before or the morning, of an intended visit. A few specimens on view at the house. N.B.—Engraving of every kind executed in the best manner. March 26, 1855." - <a href=" http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2481916 " rel="noreferrer nofollow">trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2481916</a> He maintained a keen interest in every stage of the development of photography in Australia, and it is believed he was the first to introduce the carte-de-visite to Hobart in 1861. From 1858 to 1865 he operated a studio at 140 Elizabeth Street, where this portrait was taken, which means this could possibly be an example of one of Tasmania's earliest CDVs. - source: 'Thomas Bock as a Photographer' by Chris Long in Thomas Bock: Convict Engraver, Society Portraitist by Diane Dunbar (Launceston: Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, 1991). Alfred Bock (c.1850) by Thomas Bock [National Gallery of Australia: <a href=" http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=200334 " rel="noreferrer nofollow">NGA 2010.329</a>] Portrait of Alfred Bock, Hobart [Archives Office of Tasmania: <a href=" https://stors.tas.gov.au/PH30-1-6582 " rel="noreferrer nofollow">PH30-1-6582</a>]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjkwhtxmcyktrxqjgjvgf.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fmedia%2Fnewsroom%2F2026%2F556120cb-8cb2-4dc9-a6a8-19209bcd083c-hobart-family-support-services.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
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- Date: 5 October 2026
- Location: City of Launceston Town Hall, 18/28 St John St, Launceston 7250
- Timezone: Australia/Hobart
- Tagged as: Community events & fundraisers
Source: https://launceston.tas.gov.au/Upcoming-Events/Seniors-Morning-Tea-Talk-at-Town-Hall