Christopher George Caisley (1882 – 1960) was born in Wallsend, Newcastle and later worked from a stationer’s store on the eastern Strand as a proprietor and photographer, capturing images early Whakatāne.
George Caisley arrived in New Zealand as a small child with his family to farm in Rangiriri, Waikato. Following his parent’s death, George (at the age of 12) and his older brother Charles worked the goldmines of Karangahake. He then moved to Rotorua, where he became a refrigeration engineer working for Thomas Kirk (1866 – 1931). In 1906, he moved with Thomas Kirk to Whakatāne, where he helped set up the Messrs Kirk and Carter Ltd Bacon Factory (later known as the Arawa Dairy Factory).
Caisley and his wife Catherine (1880 – 1947) established a stationer's store in 1913 on one of the first of the Whakatāne Harbour Board’s river reclaimation sites. From the store they sold his photographic services, including postcards featuring images of the District, and they contributed photographs to the newspaper of the time, The Auckland Weekly News.
Caisley retired from business in 1940 and served on the Whakatāne Borough Council for 15 years. He was also involved in the local Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Bowling Club, and Masonic Lodge 198, of which he was Master in 1928.
Photos from the collection
Wairere Falls, Whakatāne
Accession number: 2010.95.22
Pohaturoa Rock, Whakatāne
Accession number: 2010.95.38
Whakatāne River
Accession number: 2010.95.7
Miss Stewart
Accession number: 2010.95.23
SS Mangapapa
Accession number: 2010.95.26
Whakatāne Strand
Accession number: 2010.95.31
Pohaturoa Rock, Whakatāne
Accession number: 2010.95.38
Whakaari (White Island)
Accession number: 2010.95.43
Accession number: 2010.95.44
The Strand, Whakatāne
Accession number: 2010.95.47
Accession number: 2010.95.49
Pohaturoa Rock, Whakatāne
Accession number: 2010.95.70
The Whakatāne River, looking towards town
Accession number: 2010.95.71
Whakatāne River
Accession number: 2010.95.7
