11 Facts About Bernhardt Holtermann

Bernhardt Otto Holtermann was a successful gold miner, businessman, politician and photographer in Australia.

Bernhardt Holtermann emigrated in 1858 to avoid Prussian military service.

On 22 February 1868, Bernhardt Holtermann married Harriett Emmett, while Beyers married her sister Mary.

Bernhardt Holtermann built a large mansion, "The Towers" in North Sydney, complete with a stained glass window depicting himself and the specimen.

Bernhardt Holtermann invested wisely and kept his wealth, allowing him to take up his true passion of photography.

Bernhardt Holtermann financed and possibly participated in Beaufoy Merlin's project to photograph New South Wales and exhibit the results abroad to encourage immigration.

The UNESCO-listed collection of negatives, known as The Bernhardt Holtermann Collection, is housed in the State Library of New South Wales and presented in Gulgong Bernhardt Holtermann Museum.

In October 1874, Bernhardt Holtermann was elected an alderman in a special election for the Belmore Ward of the Borough of St Leonards.

In 1882, on his third try, Bernhardt Holtermann was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for St Leonards, which he served until his death.

Bernhardt Holtermann was proud of having cured fellow passengers on his 1858 sea voyage to Australia.

Bernhardt Holtermann died in Sydney, Australia on his birthday, 29 April 1885, of "cancer of the stomach, cirrhosis of the liver and dropsy", leaving a wife, three sons and two daughters.