Pioneers and PalmsThe Newman Family

The land on which Charles Newman and his bride Mary Ann Bales started their nursery in the mid-1850s is about 15km from the centre of the city of Adelaide, near Tea Tree Gully. Some of the plant stock was obtained from seeds and cuttings available in the colony and much was imported from England and Germany and shipped in sealed, miniature glasshouses; this was partly to provide a stable environment, but also to prevent sea water from being washed onto them as they sat on the deck of the sailing ship. There must have been a lot of trial and error involved in finding out what would survive and flourish in the unfamiliar climate of Adelaide, and, later, further afield as settlement moved outwards from the capital.

Income-producing horticultural stock took time to mature. Charles supplemented their income by working as a builder, and was responsible for a number of the public buildings in the Tea Tree Gully area. The bullock team and wagon were another source of income – Charles drove them over the difficult roads from the mines at Burra to Port Adelaide, loaded with copper for export. Later, the employees helped build the extensive glass and brush houses needed for the nursery.

The Newman’s first house was a two-room dwelling built using a cliff-face for one wall, and with an attic for storage. A vegetable garden was planted on the banks of the creek nearby. Mary Ann would take the produce into the East End Market on Wednesdays and Fridays. As trade started at 1.00am, she had to leave home at 11.00pm. If Charles was at home, he would drive the first half mile down the steep gullies to the track leading to Adelaide. If there was any produce left when the market closed, Mary Ann sold it house to house on her way home – a round trip of about 30 km. She continued to do this until their oldest child was able to take over, and was able to make a substantial financial contribution to the building of a stone house from her market endeavours. During the winter Charles was at home clearing the land, often working by lamplight.

Ultimately, the Newmans’ ‘Model Nursery’ covered 500 acres. There were 90 acres of fruit trees which included 500,000 apples, cherries and stone fruit, 100,000 citrus fruit and 100,000 vines.

Sadly, this nursery was sold in 1925 after family feuding, mismanagement and finally terrible flooding. Charles’ son, Frederick, resumed the family trading name at a nearby property and it is still in the family, now the fifth generation since the original immigrants from Germany.

Descendants of Carl Vincent Neumann

Carl Vincent Neumann was born in Germany and died in 1879 in South Australia. Carl was naturalized in 1872.

Carl married Margaret. Margaret was born in Germany and died in South Australia.

They had the following children:

  • Charles Newman and two daughters

Charles Newman was born in 1834 in Germany. He died in 1899 in South Australia.

Charles married Mary Anne Maria Bales daughter of William Thomas Bales (Bailes) and Georgiana Knapp in 1857. Mary was born 1838 and died 1932 in South Australia.

They had the following children:

  • Charles Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • George Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • John Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Wilhemina Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Georgiana Newman was born in 1864 in South Australia. She died in 1939.
  • Charlotte Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Alfred Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Harry Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Frederick Christolph Newman was born 1871 and died 1955 in South Australia.
  • Albert Newman was born and died in South Australia.
  • Walter Newman was born and died in South Australia. Florence Newman was born and died in South Australia. Lillie Newman was born and died in South Australia. Henrietta Newman was born and died in South Australia.

Georgiana married Albert Palm son of Johan Heinrich Palm and Johanna Bussenschutt in 1886. Albert was born 1862 and died 1943 in South Australia.

They had the following children:

  • Alberta Palm was born 1887 in South Australia and died 1953 in New South Wales. Alberta married in 1913.
  • Minnie Palm was born 1889 in South Australia and died 1964 in Victoria. Minnie also married in 1913.
  • Albert Palm was born 1890 in South Australia and died 1951 in New South Wales.
  • Cyril Palm was born 1893 and died 1977 in South Australia.
  • Leslie Palm was born 1895 and died 1915 in South Australia. The cause of death was Service in WWI.
  • George Palm was born 1897 and died 1977 in South Australia.
  • Milton Palm was born 1899 and died in South Australia.
  • Diosma Palm was born in 1902 in South Australia. She died in 1989 in South Australia.
  • Daphne Palm was born 1907 and died in 1999 in South Australia.

Diosma married Stuart Humble.

They had the following children:

  • Maggie Patterson