Background
John William Lindt was born in 1845 in Germany.
John William Lindt was born in 1845 in Germany.
In 1865 Lindt ran away to sea at an early age, deserting the ship in Queensland, Australia. Whereupon he traveled the "outback" for several months. Around 1867 he apprenticed himself to a photographer in Graffon, North South Wales.
Shortly after the end of his apprenticeship Lindt opened a studio. In 1876 he moved to Melbourne and established a successful studio, there that catered mainly to businesses and society families. Also, he became an importer and dealer in cameras and accessories. From 1885 to 1889 Lindt went on several expeditions to New Guinea, the New Hebrides and Fiji, and in 1895 he built his country retreat, "The Hermitage," which became a well known guest house as well as serving as his studio.
From the time he opened his first studio Lindt enjoyed a growing reputation. He exhibited large prints, made directly from 20 x 26 wet plate negatives, in various industrial exhibitions through out the world. His dryplate photographs of his travels became internationally popular through travel books and lanternslide shows.
In 1872 Lindt married to Anna Maria Dorothea. Because of the Anna's death he married to Catherine Elizabeth Cousense, on July 10, 1889.