Aebi, James (1848 - 1935)

Born: 14 November 1848
Seeberg, Switzerland
Died: 29 July 1935
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Occupation: Photographer, Process engraver and Teacher
Summary: James Aebi introduced photo engraving into Australia and was one of the contributors to the development of the half-tone photograph process. He was appointed Instructor of Photography at the Working Men's College in 1901. Around 1905, Aebi and his assistants produced what were reported as some of Australia's first colour photographs. According to The College Quarterly, at a photographic exhibition in Dresden two of Aebi's students received 'the highest distinction in Scientific Photography, and more than half of those who won honours were students of the Photographic Department of the College.' Aebi edited The Camera House Beacon from 1907 to 1910. Following his retirement from the College in 1910, he became manager of the Darling Downs Gazette. Aebi died in 1935.

Related Themes

Photography at RMIT

Archival Resources

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives

THE COLLEGE QUARTERLY: The Official Organ of the Working Men's College Melbourne 1900; 1909 - 1912, 1900 - 1912, Series S0326; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives. Details
Working Men's College Council Minute Book 1892 - 1903 - No. 2 25 January 1892 - 21 January 1903 pp.1-383, 1892 - 1903, Item no. SER-09902 Series S0602; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives. Details

Published Resources

Journals

Aebi, James (ed.) (ed.), The Camera House Beacon I-IV, 1907-1910. Also available at https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/1sev8ar/alma999498753607636. Details

Newspaper Articles

'Colour Photography', The Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania), 10 March 1905, p. 5. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38773751/3007331. Details
'Madame L. W. Aebi', The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 13 August 1931, p. 5. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254214302. Details
Hope Hume, E., 'Obituary. Mr. James Aebi. A Life Rich and Full', The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 9 August 1935, p. 3. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/285142590. Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Colour Photography', The Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania), 10 March 1905, p. 5. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38773751/3007331; 'Madame L. W. Aebi', The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 13 August 1931, p. 5. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254214302; Aebi, James (ed.) (ed.), The Camera House Beacon I-IV, 1907-1910. Also available at https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/1sev8ar/alma999498753607636; THE COLLEGE QUARTERLY: The Official Organ of the Working Men's College Melbourne 1900; 1909 - 1912, 1900 - 1912, Series S0326; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives; Hope Hume, E., 'Obituary. Mr. James Aebi. A Life Rich and Full', The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 9 August 1935, p. 3. Also available at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/285142590; Working Men's College Council Minute Book 1892 - 1903 - No. 2 25 January 1892 - 21 January 1903 pp.1-383, 1892 - 1903, Item no. SER-09902 Series S0602; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives; Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages, Registration Number 1935/C/3634.

Created: 26 February 2026