Ralph Snowball

Ralph Snowball (19 November 1849 – 4 August 1925) was an Australian photographer. He had studios in New Lambton and Newcastle, NSW where he created a significant collection of images of Newcastle and surrounding areas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Personal life Snowball was born in Leadgate, County Durham, England. At the age of 11 he began working at the Blaydon Main Colliery as a trapper-boy. He worked as a coal-miner in Durham and then in America for three years before coming to Australia.

He retired as a professional photographer in 1915. Mary Snowball died on 27 April 1942 aged 90.

Photography career Snowball began taking photographs in 1884. The majority of his photographs were taken outside of his studios. His subjects of his photographs reflected the social and economic life of the city, with images of coal mines, Newcastle harbour, school and social club group photos, ships, tombstones and other scenes of interest. alt=Mrs. and Mr. A. Graham's family standing at Stockton with breakwater, masts of shipwreck, and Nobby's Head in background. Mrs. and Mr. A. Graham's family group at Stockton by Ralph Snowball

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