He was born in Alma (north-west of Maryborough), Victoria, in 1856. His parents were John Yeoman (a Crown Lands bailiff), and Jane Yeoman (née Hall). Richard grew up in a large family, being the eldest of eleven children.[2]
Richard married Annie Ruth Walsh in 1878. The marriage produced two daughters, Eva Mildred (1879-1948) and Belle (1899-1973). Unfortunately, his wife Annie (known as “Venie”) died at the age of 42, at the family home in St. Kilda (Vic.), on 23 December 1899; she was buried on Christmas Day of that year.[3]
He founded his photography business in 1881, setting up shop at 139 Clarendon Street, Emerald Hill (now known as South Melbourne). By 1888 he had moved his business to new premises in Bourke Street, in the central business district of Melbourne. His brothers also worked in the same industry; between them, they ran a number of photography studios in the city and suburbs of Melbourne, as well as in country Victoria. The work of the brothers in the field of photography became widely-known. According to The Australasian Photo-Review, the Yeoman brothers were considered to be “amongst the pioneers of photography in Victoria”.[4]
Having an interest in horses, Richard participated in the equestrian scene, hunting with hounds, as well as being involved with steeplechasing. According to The Age (Melbourne), he was “an ardent sportsman”.[5]
Richard Yeoman died at his home in Downshire Road, Elsternwick, Victoria, on 17 June 1914, at the age of 58. He was buried in the St. Kilda cemetery.[6]
He had attained renown in the field of photography, and was a popular figure in his industry. The Age described him as one of Melbourne’s “oldest and most respected business men”.[7]
With his photographic work, Richard Yeoman immortalised the images of many early Australians. With the advent of the internet, many examples of the work undertaken by him, as well as by his brothers, are coming to light, and a wide range of photos of early Australians are being added to the historical record.
Articles about Richard Yeoman:
About people [20 June 1914]
Includes an obituary regarding Richard Yeoman. Published in The Age (Melbourne, Vic.).
The late Richard Yeoman [22 July 1914]
A tribute to Richard Yeoman. Published in The Australasian Photo-Review (Sydney, NSW).
Ephemera relating to Richard Yeoman:
Salvation Army officers [postcard, early 20th Century]
A postcard was made by R. Yeoman & Co., 116 Bourke St., Melbourne.
References:
[1] Roger Vaughan “Victorian chromotype permanent photographs”, Victorian and Edwardian Photographs – Roger Vaughan Photograph Collection [this site is hosted on RootsWeb (Ancestry.com)] [includes a link to an image of a carte de visite made by R. Yeoman of 169 Bourke St. East, Melbourne]
For general information about cartes de visite and cabinet cards, see:
“Carte de Visite”, City Gallery
“carte-de-visite: photography”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
“Carte de visite”, Wikipedia
“carte de visite”, Wiktionary [plural: cartes de visite]
“Cabinet card”, City Gallery
“Cabinet card”, Wikipedia
See also:
Marcus Bunyan, “Photographs: ‘Australian cartes-de-visite, Melbourne’ 1860s-1880s”, Art Blart, 16 January 2022
“Posts Tagged ‘Australian cartes de visite” (tag search results), Art Blart
[2] “Sudden death: At the public offices: An ex-Lands bailiff”, The Herald Standard (Melbourne, Vic.), 22 November 1898, p. 2 [death of John Yeoman, senior, ex Crown Lands bailiff]
“Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 23 November 1898, p. 1 [John and Jane Yeoman; death of John Yeoman, senior, “father of Yeoman brothers, photographers”]
“Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria
1) birth record: name: Richard YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: ALMA; reg. year 1856; reg. no. 9652/1856
2) birth record: name: John YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: DUNOLLY; reg. year 1857; reg. no. 11949/1857
3) birth record: name: George YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: BURNT CK [Burnt Creek]; reg. year 1859; reg. no. 9526/1859
4) birth record: name: Louisa YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: TAR’GULLA; reg. year 1861; reg. no. 9958/1861
5) birth record: name: Charles YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: TARN; reg. year 1863; reg. no. 9880/1863
6) birth record: name: Hannah YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: TARN; reg. year 1864; reg. no. 24847/1864
7) birth record: name: Emily YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: NEWBRIDGE; reg. year 1867; reg. no. 4702/1867
8) birth record: name: Clara YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: EMERALD HL [Emerald Hill]; reg. year 1869; reg. no. 2229/1869
9) birth record: name: Alfred YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: EMERALD; reg. year 1870; reg. no. 23045/1870
10) birth record: name: Arthur YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: John YEOMAN; place of birth: EM H [Emerald Hill]; reg. year 1873; reg. no. 9210/1873
Note: An eleventh child, Sarah, could not be located in the records of the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, but was mentioned in a death notice for John Yeoman, senior, in The Age, 24 November 1898, as well as being mentioned in death notices for Richard Yeoman, in The Age and The Argus, 20 June 1914.
“Deaths”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 24 November 1898, p. 1 [death of John Yeoman, senior; Alfred referred to as Fred; daughter Sarah]
“Deaths”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 5, column 2 [death of Richard Yeoman; list of his siblings]
“Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 11, column 2 [death of Richard Yeoman; list of his siblings]
[3] “Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 26 December 1899, p. 1 [death of Annie Yeoman]
“Deaths”, The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 December 1899, p. 1520 [death of Annie Yeoman]
“[The funeral of the late Mrs Annie Ruth Yeoman]” (untitled news item), The Prahran Chronicle (Prahran, Vic.), 30 December 1899, p. 2
“Engagement”, Melbourne Punch (Melbourne, Vic.), 29 July 1897, p. 7 of the Special Supplement to Melbourne Punch [engagement of Eva M. Yeoman and Lieut. T. J. Gilpin]
“Marriages”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 March 1902, p. 1 [marriage of Eva Mildred Yeoman (“elder daughter of Richard Yeoman, “St. Leonards,” St. George’s road, Elsternwick”) to Henry Neville Plumpton, in Sydney]
“Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria
1) marriage record: name: Richard YEOMAN, to Annie Ruth WALSH; reg. year 1878; reg. no. 986/1878
2) death record: name: Annie Ruth YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Ann MIDDLETON; father’s name: Laurence Walshe [sic]; place of birth: [n/a]; place of death: St K; Age at death: 42; reg. year: 1899, reg. no.: 16205/1899 [It is not known if she died as a result of giving birth to Belle.]
3) birth record: name: Eva Mildred YEOMANS [sic]; mother’s name at birth: Ann Ruth WALSH; father’s name: Richard [YEOMAN]; place of birth: CARL; reg. year 1879; reg. no. 14558/1879
4) death record: name: Eva Mildred PLUMPTON; mother’s name at birth: Annie Ruth WALSH; father’s name: Richard YEOMAN; place of birth: [n/a]; place of death: BRIGHTON MIDDLE; Age at death: 69; reg. year: 1948, reg. no.: 11979/1948
5) birth record: name: Belle YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Annie WALSH; father’s name: Richd YEOMAN; place of birth: St Kilda; reg. year 1899; reg. no. 22389/1899
6) death record: name: Belle YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Ruth WALSH; father’s name: Richard YEOMAN; place of birth: Melbourne; place of death: Geelong; Age at death: 75; reg. year: 1973, reg. no.: 14905/1973
[4] “R. Yeoman, photographer” (advertisement), The Record and Emerald Hill and Sandridge Advertiser (Emerald Hill, Vic.), 14 January 1881, p. 2 [Clarendon Street shop, 1881]
“South Melbourne, Victoria”, Wikipedia [South Melbourne used to be known as Emerald Hill]
“They say that”, North Melbourne Gazette (North Melbourne, Vic.), 18 October 1895, p. 3 [“Charlie Yeoman … his photographic business in Errol-street”]
“Depilatory removes superfluous hair…” (advertisement), The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 10 January 1898, p. 7 [this advertisement indicates that Yeoman’s shop (at 116 Bourke St., Melbourne) was well-known, as it is used as a point of reference for directions to another business: “J S. Eve, Ladies’ Hairdresser, 114 Bourke-st., next Yeoman’s, exactly op. Market.”]
“Sudden death”, The North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser (North Melbourne, Vic.), 25 November 1898, p. 3 [re death of John Yeoman, senior, “father of Mr. C. Yeoman, the well known photographer”]
“A Numurkah wedding”, The Numurkah Leader (Numurkah, Vic.), 18 April 1902, p. 4 [re wedding of Arthur Yeoman, “the well-known photographic artist”]
“The Australian Eleven”, The Numurkah Leader (Numurkah, Vic.), 13 June 1902, p. 4, column 5 [“Numurkah … Yeoman and Co.’s studio … Mr A. Yeoman”]
“The late Richard Yeoman”, The Australasian Photo-Review (Sydney, NSW), 22 July 1914, p. 370 [“Mr. R. Yeoman … a well-known photographer. … was one of a photographic family who were amongst the pioneers of photography in Victoria”]
“About people”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 9 October 1933, p. 8 [re death of John Yeoman, “a photographer who formerly had businesses in the city and provincial towns, with head quarters in Chapel-street, Prahran”]
“Personal”, The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), 11 October 1933, p. 7 [re death of John Yeoman, “he was the proprietor of the Eden Studios in Swanston Street, and also owned branches in various parts of the State with headquarters in Chapel Street, Prahran”]
Re Bourke Street premises:
1) “By appointment” (advertisement), The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 January 1888, p. 1, column 2 [“By appointment — Photographic views taken of every description. Yeoman & Co., Bourke-street east.”]
2) “Bourke-st. Studio, Yeoman’s” (advertisement), The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 1 November 1890, p. 3, column 2 [“Bourke-st. Studio, Yeoman’s, is op. the Eastern Market. Open on Cup day.”]
3) “Cup visitors” (advertisement), The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 7 November 1891, p. 5, column 3 [“Cup visitors should all have their Cabinets taken at Yeoman’s Studio, 116 Bourke-st. E.”]
[5] “About people”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 12 [“He was an ardent sportsman, and many years ago was a prominent figure on the hunting field.”]
The following are examples of newspaper reports which mention the involvement of R. Yeoman with equestrian activities:
“National Agricultural Society’s Show”, The Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), 3 September 1887, p. 22 [“R. Yeoman’s br g Sundowner, 7 yrs.”]
Chimham, “Hunting: The Melbourne hounds”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 19 June 1889, p. 6 [“R. Yeoman on Sundowner”]
“Melbourne Hunt Club”, The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic), 21 September 1889, p. 591 [“Mr. R. Yeoman’s b g Sundowner, aged”]
Straggler, “Hunting: The Melbourne hounds”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 17 September 1890, p. 7 [“R. Yeoman on Sheoak”]
“Victoria Amateur Turf Club Spring Meeting”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 23 September 1890, p. 10 [“Mr. R. Yeoman’s bl m Sheok, aged”]
“The point to point steeplechase”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 24 September 1890, p. 3 [“Mr R. Yeoman’s Sheoak, 11st 5lb (Mr H. Boyes)”]
“Winners of the Caulfield Guineas”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 15 October 1890, p. 7 [“Mr R. Yeoman’s bl m Sheoak, aged, 11st 9lb (Mr B. C. Boys)”]
“Victoria Amateur Turf Club Races”, The Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), 18 October 1890, p. 19 [“R. Yeoman’s bk m Sheoak, aged, 11 st. 9 lb. … (Mr. Boyes)”]
“This day: City Bazaar” (advertisement), The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 27 May 1892, p. 2 [“R. Yeoman, Esq., to sell … Schoolboy, bay gelding”]
“Sporting intelligence”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 27 May 1892, p. 3 [“Several hunters are to be sold … Schoolboy, on account of Mr. R. Yeoman”]
“Oaklands Hunt Club Point to Point Steeplechase”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 5 September 1893, p. 7 [“Mr R. Yeoman’s b g Sundowner”]
“Oaklands Hunt Club Point to Point Steeplechase”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 13 September 1893, p. 7 [“R. Yeoman’s b g Sundowner”]
Javelin, “Hunt Club Anticipations”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 7 October 1893, p. 15 [“R. Yeoman’s bk m Sheoak, aged”]
“Melbourne Hunt Club Races”, The Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic.), 10 October 1893, p. 3 [“Mr. R. Yeoman’s bk m Sheoak, aged, 11st 10lb (Mr W. C. Knight)”]
[6] “Deaths”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 5, column 2 [he died “at his residence … Downshire-road, Elsternwick”]
“About people”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 12 [death of Mr. R. Yeoman]
“Deaths”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 11, column 2
“Judicial and law notices”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 29 July 1914, p. 19 [“probate of the will of Richard Yeoman … late of Downshire road,
Elsternwick”]
“In memoriam”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 17 June 1916, p. 13, column 4
“Search your family history”, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria (death record: name: Richd YEOMAN; mother’s name at birth: Jane HALL; father’s name: Unknown; place of birth: [n/a]; place of death: Ewick; Age at death: 58; reg. year: 1914, reg. no.: 5380/1914)
[7] “About people”, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 12 [“His death removes from the city one of its oldest and most respected business men”]
“Obituary”, The Evening Echo (Ballarat, Vic.), 20 June 1914, p. 2 (Second Edition) [duplicate of the article in The Age, 20 June 1914]
“The late Richard Yeoman”, The Australasian Photo-Review (Sydney, NSW), 22 July 1914, p. 370 [“a well-known photographer … a very popular man amongst the profession”]
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