More Info →View of The Lakelet, The Square

Bertie (Bert) Albert was born 2 January, 1883 at 75 Venue Street in Bromley, Poplar, Country of Middlesex, London. His family migrated to New Zealand in 1910 on the Arawa, arriving in Wellington in 1911. Bert worked in one of the dairy factories in Woodville as a carter, factory assistant and creamery manager. He also worked in Palmerston North at the NZ Farmers Union butter factory. He also appears to have worked as a part-time projectionist in cinemas around Palmerston North and Woodville. The family moved to Matamata in 1919/1920, where Bert's first wife Harriet passed away. The family returned to Palmerston North in 1927. He was employed as a storeman/driver at Goldingham & Becketts, King Street. It is about this time that this collection of photographs was taken. This image was made from a glass plate negative donated to the City Archives in 1971. The photographs were probably taken by Bertie to send home to family in England as postcards.