[2] 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.

[2] In 1879 Snowball, his wife Mary and son, George (2) arrived in Australia on board the Ninevah.

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.

[1] In the early years of his career, his studio and darkroom were in his home in New Lambton.