This striking portrait is of John Trevallon Mathewson, son of the one of Queensland's most famous photographers.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/slq_standard/public/ww1-files-2013-11-jack-mathewson.jpg?itok=J8H9olNL)
In his book Thomas Mathewson, Father of Photography in Queensland. An Early Pioneer, Photographer, Historian, 1842 to 1934 Alan Reeve North says this of Jack: "Jack Mathewson worked in his father's studio from about the year 1910 and later was a photographer with the Australian Flying Corp in World War I from 1916 to 1920.
It was hoped that Jack would carry on the family business which he did for a while, but like his father he possessed an adventurous spirit and instead became a missionary to China from 1924 to 1928.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/slq_standard/public/ww1-files-2013-11-staff.jpg?itok=-7C7Yl8O)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/slq_standard/public/ww1-files-2013-11-article21170927-3-001.jpg?itok=TbL8EAMW)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/slq_standard/public/ww1-files-2013-11-article21352040-3-001.jpg?itok=mBwSWL5c)
In subsequent years Jack did work in some Brisbane studios such as Cooper and Gillespie and the Regent Studios. His second name is unusual but it is believed to spring from a home in which the Mathewson family resided for a brief period and which was opposite the home of the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane 'Bishopbourne'; the name of that residence was 'Trevallon'. Born in 1891, his life came to a close in 1974. Jack married Leila Gwendolyn Davis in 1928."
Simon Farley - Librarian, State Library of Queensland
Comments
Your email address will not be published.
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.