Henry Mobsby

Henry Mobsby (1860–1933) was a British/Australian artist and photographer, who helped film some of the earliest motion pictures produced in Australia.

Early life Henry William Mobsby (1860-1933) was born on 17 August 1860 in Hove, Sussex, England the son of William Mobsby, a watchman, and his wife Sarah. He was educated at Hampton Place school. He received training in art, design, chemistry and commercial practice at the South Kensington School of Arts, London and the School of Arts, Brighton. He emigrated to Australia in 1883 with artist Isaac Jenner and his family. His brother, Benjamin Mobsby also emigrated with his family to Australia. Henry Mobsby married Jenner's eldest daughter Mary Ellen “Nellie” on 10 September 1884 in Brisbane, Queensland. He became an assistant to Frederick Wills in 1899, who had been charged by the Queensland government to make an early form of motion picture, a cinematograph, celebrating the state's primary industries and resources. Within six months Wills and Mobsby had produced thirty 1 minute films of excursions they took around Queensland, the Torres Straits, and topical events such as the Boer War departure of Queensland troops. By 1900 the technology they had used to film these events had already evolved. He was survived by his wife and daughter Berta, his son Arthur having pre-deceased him in 1905. The Mobsby Memorial medal was created in his son's name and awarded to Year 8 students at Indooroopilly State School from 1916 to 1950. A book describing his life and work was published in 2017. Lantern slides of his work are held by the State Library of Queensland.