Barcroft was born in Dublin, Ireland on 12 November 1838.
Boake migrated after seeking advice from his cousin, a Rev. at Holy Trinity Church, Balaclava, Victoria.
He moved to Melbourne, Victoria in the 1850s, and then moved on to live in Sydney in 1858.
He arrived with some experience and knowledge of photography and worked at Freeman's studio in Sydney for many years.
While in Sydney he married Florence Eva Clark in 1865.
He settled in Sydney working in his own photographic studio at 330 George St, Sydney up until 1866, when he then declared bankruptcy and moved to Daylesford, Vic.
He spent the rest of his life there until his death at the age of 83, February 1921.

Although struggling with personal life tragedies and economic worries he was one of the most successful and popular professional photographers of the latter half of the 19th century.
He did however spend the last 30 years of his life in obscurity.


B.C.Boake fathered a son in 1866, Barcroft Henry Thomas Boake was born in Balmain, Sydney, on 26 March.
 Boake Junior was born the year B.C.Boake left Freeman's studio.
He was a talented poet that left home at the age of 17, struggling with bouts of depression.
In 1892, during the year of the bank crisis, Barcrot Boake junior was found dead.
He had returned home to his father, who was bankrupt.
At this stage not much was left to salvage in B.C.Boake's life.
His wife had died a number of years prior, now his son.

He had daughters that were now married and living away from his home that had been sold.
Also his studio and all other possessions were now lost, sold to creditors due to his bankruptcy.
This is when he decided to live his life in a quiet and small town, Daylesford, Victoria.
He opened a small one man studio and worked their for many years.
His life ended in an accident, while smoking a pipe he fell asleep and his beard caught on fire, and he burned to death.
Barcroft was born in Dublin, Ireland on 12 November 1838. Boake migrated after seeking advice from his cousin, a Rev. at Holy Trinity Church, Balaclava, Victoria. He moved to Melbourne, Victoria in the 1850s, and then moved on to live in Sydney in 1858. He arrived with some experience and knowledge of photography and worked at Freeman's studio in Sydney for many years. While in Sydney he married Florence Eva Clark in 1865. He settled in Sydney working in his own photographic studio at 330 George St, Sydney up until 1866, when he then declared bankruptcy and moved to Daylesford, Vic. He spent the rest of his life there until his death at the age of 83, February 1921. 
Although struggling with personal life tragedies and economic worries he was one of the most successful and popular professional photographers of the latter half of the 19th century. He did however spend the last 30 years of his life in obscurity.

B.C.Boake fathered a son in 1866, Barcroft Henry Thomas Boake was born in Balmain, Sydney, on 26 March.  Boake Junior was born the year B.C.Boake left Freeman's studio. He was a talented poet that left home at the age of 17, struggling with bouts of depression. In 1892, during the year of the bank crisis, Barcrot Boake junior was found dead. He had returned home to his father, who was bankrupt. At this stage not much was left to salvage in B.C.Boake's life. His wife had died a number of years prior, now his son. 
He had daughters that were now married and living away from his home that had been sold. Also his studio and all other possessions were now lost, sold to creditors due to his bankruptcy. This is when he decided to live his life in a quiet and small town, Daylesford, Victoria. He opened a small one man studio and worked their for many years. His life ended in an accident, while smoking a pipe he fell asleep and his beard caught on fire, and he burned to death.
Barcroft Capel Boake