PARTINGTON, William Henry Thomas

William Henry Thomas Partington

born 8 December 1854, Auckland, New Zealand, 
died 22 July 1940, 24 Milton Road, Mount Eden, Auckland aged 85 years

see Martin & Partington about 1880 to 1882
see Partington and Kinsey about 1882 to 1884
Auckland, later Whanganui [Wanganui]
succeeded by Arthur Edgar Watkinson in Whanganui July 1904

24 Grey Street 
 Auckland

1884 to 1892

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections
Record ID 772-1
Date circa 1886
 W H T Partington, Photographic studios, Greys Avenue [Grey Street], Auckland Central

Auckland Star, Volume xxvi, Issue 5496, 28 February 1885 

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 308, 31 December 1887

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1892

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria Avenue

Whanganui
about 4 March 1892 - about July 1904

Mr Partington, a well known Auckland photographer, who has determined upon settling in Wanganui, has opened a studio next door to Paul and Co's in the Avenue. The sample photos Mr Partington has on view are of such a quality as should ensure his doing a good business from the start.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11474, 4 March 1892, Page 2

Mr Partington, who has lately come from Auckland, and taken premises in Caxton Buildings, over Mr Willis' old shop, has some fine specimens of photographic art in his show cases. Mr Partington has had a long Auckland experience, and if the high class nature of his work carries any weight with the public, he should secure a good connection.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11481, 12 March 1892, Page 2

We paid a visit this morning to Mr Partington's photographic studio, situated in the upstairs portion of Mr Remington's shop, and were very gratified at noting the completeness of the arrangements obtaining there. The studio itself is very large and lofty, with that essential so necessary for the production of good specimens of the art, namely, a judicious distribution of light, while the accessories are in excellent taste.

Leading from the studio are several rooms, including a dark room, printing rooms, finishing room, dressing room, vestibule, etc all fitted up neatly and with the latest appliances. Distributed in different parts of the studio are some really excellent specimens of the opal process, finished in carbon — one of the best processes of modern photography, and certainly showing artistic workmanship in the general effect produced. The bromide process, a cheaper but almost an equally good one, is also shown in a variety of pictures, evidence throughout being given of the reputation Mr Partington possessed in Auckland of being decidedly one of the very best artist photographers there, especially in the enlargement process, and it was particularly unfortunate that he should have suffered so severely by the fire, by which he lost the whole of a valuable collection of negatives and appliances, the result of eight years' work.

The price list, which is given in another column, shows considerable reductions in every description of photographs, and as Mr Partington during the short space of time that he has opened his studio here has been visited by a large number of townspeople, there is every reason to believe that he will not regret settling in Wanganui, but that he will soon find himself surrounded by numerous clients, who may be assured that they will meet with every attention from a thoroughly practical and efficient photographer.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 7669, 16 March 1892, Page 2

We had an opportunity this morning of taking a short glance through Mr Partington's studio, and noting a few of the many improvements he has made for the benefit o f the public. Firstly then, in the operating room or studio proper, Mr Partington has added many accessories to such a business, including handsome rustic chairs, a magnificent Elizabethian chair, grass mats, vases, flower bowls, and fancy screens, etc., in numbers. He informed us that he was about supplementing these with a great many more very shortly from Auckland, but what was of more importance he had shortly to arrive from Germany, scenery of the very best description to match the new studio furniture. He had also imported at considerable cost.  specially large camera and lenses for the purpose of taking a photo much larger than is ordinarily seen, namely 12 x 10. As photos direct from the camera are obviously more lifelike than enlargements could be, this venture cannot fail to comment itself. For the photographing of groups and families it is specially adapted ; and we were shown several valuable works of art. If customers should, however, wish enlargements Mr Partington is prepared to undertake the work in either bromide, carbon or opal. So far as cabinet photographs are concerned he guarantees to turn out very first class work, either enamelled or opallette, at a low figure— 2oa per dozen or 12a 6d per dozen.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8306, 20 October 1893 

  
 Partington, W. H. T., Photographer, Victoria Avenue, Wanganui. Telegraphic address, “Partington, Wanganui” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Taylorville. 

Mr. Partington established himself as above in 1891, and has during that short time worked up a very good business. He was born in Auckland, his parents being among the early settlers. He learned his business partly with Mr. Bartlett and partly with Messrs. Hemus and Hanna, of Auckland. He was subsequently in partnership with Mr. Josiah Martin, one of the leading photographers of Auckland, and in conjunction with that gentleman was the first to introduce into Auckland what is known as instantaneous photography. While still in Auckland he was at a later period in partnership with Mr. Kinsey, who is now in business in Wellington. After this Mr. Partington went into business on his own account in Grey Street, Auckland, where he remained for some seven or eight years, until, in 1891, the block of which his studio was a part was consumed by fire. He then removed to Wanganui, and took his present most centrally-situated premises, being a part of the first floor of Messrs. Paul and Co.'s drapery warehouse. Mr. Partington claims to have introduced artistic photography into this district, and certainly his specimens of portraiture are exceedingly fine. As the people of Wanganui and the surrounding district become more accustomed to high-class work, Mr. Partington's business will undoubtedly rapidly increase. His work will compare well with the best that is produced in this Colony, and his prices are such that no advantage can be gained by passing him over to give preference to the larger establishments of the older cities. His studio is handsomely fitted, and his suite of apartment is equal to all the requirements of the district for many years.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, [Wellington Provincial District] 1897

 

 Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 15000, 2 January 1901, Page 1


Wanganui Chronicle, 4 February 1902, Page 1

He did not advertise as a photographer in Wanganui after 1902, his last advertisement appearing in the Wanganui Chronicle on 10 February 1902.


Mr. W. H. T. Partington, the well known photographer, has disposed of his business to Mr. A. E. Watkinson, of Auckland.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 12261, 23 July 1904 

Te Awa: Partington's Photographs of Whanganui Māori

William Henry Thomas Partington
Random House New Zealand, 2003 - Maori (New Zealand people) - 43 pages

The reproduction of this outstanding collection of 19th Century photographs of Maori by WHT Partington is an important event, in both historical and photographic terms. Most of these photographs have never been exhibited before. These photographs were mostly taken in the Wanganui area at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. A large number of them are studio portraits but William Partington also travelled up the Wanganui River 'the Rhine of New Zealand' and photographed people in their own environments. They have now been bought by the Whanganui Regional Museum and will be exhibited there. Through these photographs, we are taken back through time, we see some of the detail of their lives and we can imagine their reactions to the photographer. The photographs document a people in transition. As well as this historical significance, the photographs stand as works of art - displaying Partington's careful eye, fine sense of composition and technical excellence. Partington was an excellent photographer but he was an unknown in the art world until the discovery of this collection, held by some of his descendants. He was the son of early Auckland settlers whose windmill, Partington's Windmill, was a well-known landmark. When his Auckland studio burnt down, he moved to Wanganui and established a studio there.

 Family

William Henry Thomas Partington born 8 December 1854, Auckland, New Zealand, son of Charles Frederick Partington and Francis Johnston, died 22 July 1940, 24 Milton Road, Mount Eden, Auckland aged 85 years, reg. 1940/28641 aged 85 years, buried Symonds Street Cemetery (1), married Mary Jane Goldie "Janie", registered 1879/194, born circa 1849 Hobart, Tasmania, died 18 August 1930 aged 81 years.
issue: 
1. Arthur Victor Partington born 1880, reg. 1880/9072, accidentally drowned in the Wanganui River on 10 January 1895 aged 14 years, buried Heads Road Cemetery, Whanganui.

2. Ethel Maud Partington born 1882, reg. 1882/9212 , married 1904, reg. 1904/4932 Albert Edward Patterson 
issue:
2a. Albert William Dabell Patterson born 1905, reg. 1905/16573        2b. Thelma Dorien Patterson born 1920, reg. 1920/8710        2c. Arnold Frederick Goldie Patterson born 1910, reg. 1910/12164       


3. Charles William Partington born 1884, reg. 1884/623, died 1967 aged 83 years, reg. 1967/43279, married 1912, reg. 1912/7461 Mary Grover 
issue:
3a. Jean May Partington born circa 1917, reg. 1917/14454    

William Partington was doubly related to the artist Charles Frederick Goldie (1870–1947)

(1) His sister, Maria Partington who married David Goldie was the mother of the Charles Frederick Goldie.

(2) His wife Mary Jane Goldie was the sister of David Goldie, the father of Charles Frederick Goldie.

Mrs Mary J. Partington.

The death occurred on August 18 of Mrs. Mary Jane Partington, who was born in Hobart 81 years ago. She was a sister of the late Mr. David Goldie and of Mr. James Goldie, at present living in Paget Street, Ponsonby. The Goldie family came to New Zealand in 1865 by the Bella Mary, the vessel which brought across the stone for the construction of the Supreme Court buildings.

Miss Goldie was married to Mr. W. H. T. Partington, son of the late Mr. C. F. Partington, who owned the old windmill in Newton.

Mrs. Partington in her younger days belonged to the choir of St. James' Presbyterian Church, and was a worker in the Sunday school. She is survived by her husband and the following children:— Mrs. A. E. Paterson [Patterson], of Te Awamutu; and Mrs. (sic) C. W. Partington, of Auckland.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 197, 21 August 1930, Page 25

Mrs. Chas. F. Partington

Mrs. Chas. F. Partington, a much respected and very old colonist of nearly seventy years' standing, whose death was announced yesterday, was born at Belturbet, County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the year 1815 — during the reign of George III - thus having seen five sovereigns on the Throne.

She could being to memory, and was an eye-witness of many stirring events which took place during the almost revolutionary times in her native country. She well recollected the crowning of Queen Victoria in 1837, and the festivities on that occasion.

She arrived in Sydney about 1840, and after, residing there for a short period came on to Auckland in the brig Surprise, reaching here in 1841.

At that time there were only some four or five European women, in Auckland, and she and others had often to seek shelter from the Maoris during the war-time in one the of the blockhouses, where stood old St. Paul's Church at the top of Shortland street.

One of her early recollections was the first burial that took place in the Symonds street Cemetery, and also the many events under all the early Governors - Pitt, Fitzroy, Hobson. She was married in the year 1845 in Auckland by the Rev. Churton, at his residence to the late Chas. F. Partington - who predeceased her 30 years ago, and who about the year 1850 built the old Windmill and Steam Flour Mill and Biscuit Factory, now being carried on by one of his sons. He manufactured the bricks used in the construction out of the land adjacent, and carried on an extensive business supplying the British troops and Maoris during the war-time with flour and biscuits.

Mrs. Partington leaves a family of eight sons and one daughter three of the sons predeceased her some fifty-four years ago.

The interment which was private, took place on Sunday morning last in the Symonds street Cemetery, where lay her husband and relatives, immediately under the new Grafton Bridge.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 24 March 1908, Page 5

Mrs. Maria Goldie

The death occurred on Friday evening of Mrs. Maria Goldie, at her residence, 47 Pitt Street, Auckland. Mrs. Goldie, who was 93 years of age, was the widow of Mr. David Goldie, a former Mayor of Auckland and member of the House of Representatives, who died about 11 years ago.

She was the only daughter of the late Mr. Charles Frederick Partington, who built the old mill in Symonds Street, now owned by Mr. Joseph Partington. Mrs. Goldie was married in 1866, her husband having arrived in Auckland three years earlier from Tasmania.

The founder of the present firm of D. Goldie and Sons, Ltd., timber merchants, Mr. David Goldie soon became prominent in the business and public life of Auckland. He was appointed to the Provincial Council of Auckland in 1874, and he won the Auckland West seat in the House of Representatives in 1879. He was also successful in two subsequent elections for Auckland West, but he resigned his seat in 1892 for business reasons, for he had developed a very large timber business, then owning three mills.

He was a member for many years of the Auckland City Council, and was elected Mayor on three occasions, retiring from municipal politics in 1900. He also served on many other public bodies in Auckland.

Mrs. Goldie took no very great part in social life outside her home, but she was very interested in art, and at one time painted a good deal. She inherited her talent from her father, many of whose sketches are still preserved.

A son, the late Dr. W. H. Goldie, was a very fine painter who exhibited at exhibitions of the Auckland Society of Arts, and another son, Mr. C. F. Goldie, is the well-known Auckland artist, whose paintings of Maoris and Native life have won him fame. Two other sons, who are prominent business men, are Mr. H. T. Goldie and Mr. Arthur Goldie. Three daughters are Mrs. J. H. P. Bond and the Misses E. M. and V. E. Goldie.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 63, 12 September 1938, Page 14

Partington. The death of Mr. Edward Robert Partington, of Morrinsville, a member of the Partington family who have owned the windmill in Karangahape Road since the early days of Auckland, occurred in the Waikato Hospital on August 24, at the age of 74 years.

Mr. Partington was manager of the old Morrinsville creamery, before the present butter factories were built. Prior to that he conducted a flour mill at Te Rore, Piroungia. Later he was a member of the staff of the New Zealand Dairy Association, being stationed at Harapepe, Paterangi, Ohaupo, Rukuhia and Morrinsville.

Mr. Partington was a widower with no children. His wife died about two years ago. He was at various times conductor of several church choirs and also of the Ohaupo Band.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 204, 29 August 1930, Page 16

(1) Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 173, 23 July 1940, Page 1