Charles A. Newman was born at’ Riversdale’, Burswood, Western Australia and lived most of his life in the Bayswater area where the family bought 10 acres of land in 1915. His father discovered that roses on sandy soils were much more durable if grafted onto R. fortuniana rootstock. The nursery flourished and the Newman name was established in Western Australia firstly for the growing roses.
In 1936 Charles Newman travelled to Australia’s east coast on a plant buying trip and discovered the beauty of camellias at Hazelwood’s Nursery in Sydney. Charles arranged a consignment of 50 camellias. Prior to this, camellia varieties were not listed in catalogues. This was the beginning of camellias being better known and grown in Western Australia and the results can be seen in gardens today.
The nursery in Bayswater closed in 1972. The home on the property was demolished to erect the Camellia Lodge Retirement Centre.
The Bayswater City Council honoured Charles by naming the gardens on the corner of Slade Street and Guildford Road the Charles Newman Gardens and they predominately contain camellias and azaleas.
C.japonica ‘Charles E Newman
C.sasanqua ‘Sister Rosalie’
Charles originated camellias from seedlings and two most widely grown camellias are ‘Charles A Newman’ and ‘Sally J. Savige’.
‘Charles A. Newman’ is formal red flower which takes full sun and windy conditions.
When Charles passed away Jean and David Evans took over the care of some of his camellias and the following varieties have been registered.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Jean Newman’ and ‘Sister Rosalie’ are both seedlings of ‘Beatrice Emily’. Camellia japonica ‘Jean Evans’ is a cross of ‘Moshio’ and ‘Maroon and Gold’ Camellia japonica ‘David Evans’ possibly has ‘Bob Hope’ as one of its parents.
