Biography

Paul Heinrich Matthias Foelsche was born on March 30th 1831 in Moorburg, near Hamburg. At eighteen he enlisted in a German Hussar Regiment. At twenty-five he migrated to South Australia. In November 1856 he was appointed Trooper, third class, in the Mounted Police. Foelsche was transferred to Strathalbyn where, in 1860, he married Charlotte Georgina Smith. He was appointed sub-inspector in charge of the new Northern Territory Mounted Police and took up his position at Darwin in 1870.

Foelsche was a talented and dedicated amateur photographer. He compiled a detailed record of the scenery, inhabitants and industries of the Northern Territory. At his own expense, Foelsche distributed photographs to influential persons and societies.

Foelsche retired in January 1904 and died on January 31st 1914 (Pike 1972, p.192; Willis 1988, p.36-42).

Likenesses:

See between p.176 and p.177 of Cato's 'The story of the camera...' (1955).

Sources:

Cato, Jack (1955), 'The story of the camera in Australia'. Melbourne : Institute of Australian Photographers.

Davies, Alan and Stanbury, Peter (1985), 'The mechanical eye in Australia: photography 1841-1900'. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Pike, Douglas ed. (1972), 'Australian dictionary of biography'. Vol. 4: 1851-1890 D-J. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Willis, Anne-Marie (1988), 'Picturing Australia: a history of photography'. North Ryde, NSW, Australia: Angus and Robertson, 1988.

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