Arthur Bothamley

Selwyn Terrace 1890s

In this image, Arthur Thomas Bothamley sits in a room of his house at 18 Selwyn Terrace in Thorndon, during the 1890s. He arrived in New Zealand about 1867 and joined the civil service as a clerk under Sir James Hector. In 1871 he was appointed an extra clerk in the Legislative Council and held that position until his retirement in 1925.  In 1892, he was appointed the first Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. He only retired from that role in 1937.

Arthur was also an accomplished artist and photographer. Many of his works are held in the Alexander Turnbull Library. In this image he sits among framed photographic portraits, maps and a decorated screen. A bird cage hangs in the window. A press is on the table in the adjoining room.

He briefly returned to England and was married to Elizabeth Poulton in London in 1876. Their seven children were born in Wellington. By 1883, the family were living in Selwyn Terrace, a convenient location for Arthur to walk to work at Parliament House. He took several photographs of views across Thorndon from the house in the 1880’s (these are held by Te Papa).

By 1900, the Bothamley’s had moved to 9 Upton Terrace in Thorndon. Elizabeth died in 1933. Arthur died in 1938, aged 92. Their daughter Phyllis remained living in the Upton Terrace house until her death in 1969. Arthur, Elizabeth and Phillis are all interred at Karori Cemetery (plot Ch Eng/A/70).

‍Arthur Thomas Bothamley sitting in a room in his home at 18 Selwyn Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington. Bothamley, Arthur Thomas, 1846-1938 :Negatives. Ref: 1/1-013371-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22322311

Family on the porch, 1880-1885, New Zealand, by Arthur Thomas Bothamley. Purchased 1999 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (B.047603)

Wellington (from Selwyn Terrace?), circa 1880, Wellington, by Arthur Thomas Bothamley. Purchased 1999 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (D.000895)

Group firing weapons, 1880-1925, New Zealand, by Arthur Thomas Bothamley. Purchased 1999 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (A.030410)

Bothamley, Arthur Thomas, 1846-1938. Bothamley, Arthur Thomas 1846-1938: Port Nicholson, New Zealand 1869. Ref: A-032-016. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23148263

‍:Photographic portrait of Arthur Thomas Bothamley. Andrew, Stanley Polkinghorne 1879?-1964 Ref: PA7-28-06. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22800249