John Watt Beattie (1859-1930) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and emigrated to Tasmania with his family in 1878. Working on a farm in the Derwent Valley he soon turned his attention to photography, learning his craft on treks into the bush. He became a professional photographer in 1882, and formed Beattie Studios in 1891.
“Gifted with both physical zeal and craftsman skills, he probably did more than anyone to shape the accepted visual image of Tasmania. An admirer of William Piguenit, Beattie stressed the same wildly romantic aspects of the island's beauty. His work included framed prints, postcards, lantern-slides and albums, and was the basis for a popular and pleasing set of Tasmanian pictorial stamps (in print 1899-1912).”
Beattie became a prominent activist in Tasmanian society, and is regarded by many as the father of tourist promotion in Tasmania. It is certainly true that he was the best known Tasmanian photographer until Truchanas and Dombrovskis. He was also for many years a member of the Theosophical Society.
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/beattie-john-watt-5171
“Who was John Watt Beattie?” This is a fascinating short documentary, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. A wonderful chapter of Tasmanian photographic history.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVW8iidCeCQ
