TO DO WHEN COMPUTER CRACKS THE SNAIL BARRIER.
IS THERE A CONNECTION WITH THE GEELONG JAMES NEWBERY?

I first saw mention of Cosmo some years ago in relation to a fire at Dromana and had no idea who he was or where his property was until a day or so ago, courtesy of the latest Mornington Peninsula Shire Heritage report (volume 2) and the Australian Dictionary of Biography.However his strange name COSMO had been implanted forever in my memory. His biography states that he was born in Livorno, Italy and the unusual nature of this town must have been recognised by his parents when his name was chosen. Pardon the TripAdvisor spelling!

Livorno: Livorno - TripAdvisor
www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187897-c2521/Livorno:Italy:Livorno.html
Historically speaking, Livorno it is said to be a cosmopolitan and free town, thanks to the LIvornine laws which gave shelter to people from all over the world if persecuted by ethnical, political or religiuos issues. Many cult places still remind us of the old days: The Sinagogue, The Greeek Church, The English cementery, the ...

POSTSCRIPT. My subconscious tries to help me solve mysteries by producing oh so credible LOCAL HISTORY DREAMS.They're no action dramas, just little old me reading trove and discovering something sensational. Last night's one, like all the rest, was complete rubbish of course. (Cosmo's name was connected with Livorno, not because of its cosmopolitan nature but because of his grandfather, Cosmo Newbery, a cosmologist -astrologist-in the Pitt Government who had also been living in Livorno at the time of James Cosmo Newbery's birth.)

Such historical fiction seems so credible that it has to be checked as soon as I awake. AND IT DOES LEAD TO DISCOVERIES. I think this town was mentioned in passing in Cosmo's biography.

Cosmo Newbery (Yilka)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cosmo Newbery
Western Australia
Cosmo Newbery is located in Western Australia
Population 74 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1920
Postcode(s) 6440
Elevation 507 m (1,663 ft)
Location
1,036 km (644 mi) East of Perth
85 km (53 mi) North East of Laverton
LGA(s) Shire of Laverton
State electorate(s) Kalgoorlie
Federal Division(s) O'Connor
Cosmo Newbery (also spelt Cosmo Newberry, also known as Yilka) is a small Aboriginal community in Western Australia located 1,036 kilometres (644 mi) east of Perth between Laverton and Warburton in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. In the 2011 census, Cosmo Newbery had a total population of 74, including 64 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.[2]

History[edit]
The town is named after James Cosmo Newbery[3] who was an industrial chemist noted for his work on improving the chlorination method of gold extraction.[4]


COSMO'S BIOGRAPHY

THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE SURNAME IS NEWBERY but as the digitisation shows (the first word not having been corrected) failure to use both versions will probably severely limit the amount of information found.

NEWBERRY.-On the 1st inst., at his residence, Hotham-street, St. Kilda, suddenly, James Cosmo Newbery,C.M.G., aged 52 years.(P. 46, The Australasian, 11-5-1895.)

Cosmo's surname was written as Newberry in his death record* and Newbery in the records of his marriage to Catherine FlorenceMaud Hodgkinson in 1870 and the birth of their son, James Wilfred Travers Newbery in 1875**. (To confuse matters even more, the surname was written as Newbury and then Newberry in the Flinders and Kangerong Shire rate books.)

* EventDeath Event registration number7324 Registration year1895
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERRY Given namesJas Cosmo SexMale Father's nameWm Boyer Mother's nameIsabel (Fraser) Place of birth Place of deathSk Age52
(The second given name of Como's father was given as Boxer, not Boyer, in Cosmo's biography!)

**EventMarriage Event registration number3611 Registration year1870
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesJames Cosmo SexUnknown Spouse's family nameHODGKINSON Spouse's given namesCatherine Florence Maud

EventBirth Event registration number12691 Registration year1875
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesJas Wilfrid Travers SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmo Mother's nameKath Florence Maud (Hodgkinson) Place of birthSTKI

SPECULATION. Cosmo's wife may have been related to surveyor Hodgkinson after whom a street in Dromana Township was named. The son, Wilfred, a hero in W.W.1 who suffered gas poisoning in 1918 (because of something he ate!*)may have acquired his third given name because of a family connection with an ancestor of Sir Thomas Travers, eye doctor, who bought the historic "Seawinds" on Arthurs Seat in 1946 or even Benjamin Travers who pioneered opthalmology in England.

*Mrs Cosmo Newberry, of Waverley road, East Malvern, has been advised that her son Captain Wilfred Newberry, D.S.O., M.C., has been seriously gas-poisoned by the strange mischance of having eaten food that had been exposed through the night. Captain Newberry was a son of the late Mr. Cosmo Newberry, C.M.G. -Government analyst.(P.45, The Australasian, 24-8-1918.)
N.B. No record for Wilfred was found in the A.I.F. PROJECT. He died in 1942.

MORE TO COME. I NEED TO INSPECT THE 1918-1919 SHIRE OF FLINDERS RATEBOOK.
I gave up trying to find the central riding assessments in 1918-19 after half an hour. Once countless subdivisions started the old order of east, central and west ridings disappeared so an index would have been handy. Cosmo's wife, Florence, was assessed after his death and leased the 20 acres to Dr Charles Weld for several years before selling this block to him.

THE HERITAGE REPORT AND MY COMMENTS.
P.55. Additional information for Place History of 51 Devon Rd.
RE: 51 Devon Street was originally part of Crown Allotment 4, Section 3 in the Parish of Kangerong. In 1894, James C Newberry Esquire purchased land south of Boundary Road (totalling almost 20 acres). Upon his death, the land was sold to Elizabeth A. T. Weld of Dromana, in March 1919 (LV:V2531/F034). In 1920, Charles Weld was rated for 73 acres 'and buildings' located in part of Section 3 (Parish of Kangerong), Dromana, with a Net Annual Value (approx. 10% of the total value) of 25 pounds. It is not known where these buildings were located in relation to 51 Devon Street. Charles and Elizabeth were also rated for land in other parts of Dromana at this date (RB).
Dr Weld’s house is shown on Ewart Brindle’s pre 1918 map of Dromana at the north west corner of c/a 4 section 3 (the east corner of Bryan’s Cutting, now called Hillview Quarry Rd) and Boundary Rd at about the west end of Devon Rd.
As the only James Cosmo Newberry (for whom there is a death record) died in 1895, the sentence "Upon his death, the land was sold to Elizabeth A. T. Weld of Dromana, in March 1919 (LV:V2531/F034)." doesn't make sense.
J.C.Newberry (or Newbery!) adds to the significance of the Devon Rd area due to his contribution to Victoria in the geological survey and the museum.

THE FIRST MENTION OF THE WELD FAMILY IN CONNECTION WITH DROMANA.
DROMANA, WYN YEUK, ideal grounds, beautiful view, near sea, terms, moderate, Mrs. Weld.
(P.12, Argus, 4-12-1907, column 3 to right of MATRIMONY.)

By 1-2-1908, Dr Weld was practising medicine, setting 14 year old John Dyson's wrist.
(P.3, Mornington Standard, 1-2-1908.) THE QUESTION IS:WHERE?
RATE RECORDS. Assessment numbers in brackets.
1899-1900.(377) Newbury, Executors J.C. Trustees and Exors Co., 20 acres and bds., Dromana.
DITTO ---(381) Newbury, Florence A.J.Panton, 14 acres, lot 19 Flinders. (Meaningless tripe!)

1909-10.(515) Mrs Florence Newberry Trustees Ex. Co.,20 acres and scribble (buildings?) 2 of 2 5,6,7, N.A.V. 30 POUNDS. (Meaningless tripe!)SEE 1910-11.

From 2010 transcription of 1910-11 rates.No assessment numbers recorded.
Dr. Weld (estate Mrs H?.Newbury), 20 ac. & bds., 2 of 2, part 4, section 3.(As shown on Ewart Brindle's map.)

1910-11. (569)Mrs Florence Newbury Trustees Execors Co. crossed out.

1913-14. (889) Charles Weld 2 ac, c/a 2 section C.
DITTO- (890) Charles Weld oner- trustees etc Newberry Estate, 20 ac. & bds, part c/a 4 section 3, Kangerong.
DITTO- (891) Elizabeth A.T.Weld, 53 ac. part c/a 4, section 3.

FLORENCE DIED IN 1933.
EventDeath Event registration number5578 Registration year1933
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesCatherine Florence SexFemale Father's nameHODGKINSON George Mother's nameSarah Ellen (Rudd) Place of birth Place of deathBEAUMARIS Age86

NEWBERY.—On the 18th July 1933 at The Grange, Beach road, Beaumaris, Catherine Florence Maud widow of the late James Cosmo Newbery CMG, (private funeral.)P.1, ARGUS, 20-7-1933.

BIRTHS OF THE CHILDREN OF COSMO AND FLORENCE.
EventBirth Event registration number5982 Registration year1873
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERRY Given namesElizabeth Maud SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmo Mother's nameCatherine Florence (Hodgkinson) Place of birthST KILDA

EventBirth Event registration number12444 Registration year1874
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERRY Given namesKatherine Florence SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmos Mother's nameKatherine Florence (Hodgkinson) Place of birthST KILDA

EventBirth Event registration number12691 Registration year1875
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesJas Wilfrid Travers SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmo Mother's nameKath Florence Maud (Hodgkinson) Place of birthSTKI

EventBirth Event registration number19420 Registration year1878
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesBertha Jessie SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmo Mother's nameKathleen Florence Maud (Hodgkinson) Place of birthST KI

EventBirth Event registration number12713 Registration year1881
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesEveline SexUnknown Father's nameJames Cosmo Mother's nameCatherine Florence Maud (Hodgkinson) Place of birthSTKI

EventBirth Event registration number6503 Registration year1886
Personal information
Family nameNEWBERY Given namesElvia Constance SexUnknown Father's nameCosmo Mother's nameFlorence (Hodgkinson) Place of birthSTKI

That was probably Cosmo's last chance of siring a second son.As his biography states:
Unhappily he suffered spinal and chest injuries in the Windsor railway collision of 11 May 1887; although never fully recovered, he still carried out much important work. He died at his home in Hotham Street, East St Kilda, on 1 May 1895.

THE NEWBERY INVOLVEMENT AT DROMANA.
There hadn't been much about "Newberry, Dromana" so I used the correct spelling. I intend to present the articles chronologically but this one comes first because it was years ago that I saw it and thought, "What a strange name. To the uninitiated it gives no clue to the location of the late Cosmo's property but you, reader, have seen the passage from the heritage study and my comment about Ewart Brindle's map.

23 BULLOCKS. AND 1000 SHEEP
ROASTED.
A fierce fire is burning within a mile of
Dromana, menacing the property of the late
Mr Cosmo Newbery. Should this cross the
road the destruction of some fine properties**
cannot be averted. Another fire is threatening
Mr Burrell's place, opposite the lighthouse. Mr
Shand; saw miller, of Balnarring, has lost 23
bullocks by the fire, their roasted carcases being
huddled together in a burnt paddock. It is
also stated that Mr D. Mails*, J.P., has lost
1000 sheep, they having fallen victims to the
flames. Such a fire has not occurred there for
over 20 years. (P.2, Mt. Alexander Mail, 2-2-1898.)

* DAVID MAIRS OF THE PARISHES OF BLACKWOOD AND BITTERN ...
www.familytreecircles.com/david-mairs-of-the-parish-of-bittern-vic-aust-50327.html

** SOME FINE PROPERTIES. Between Newbery's 20 acres (just east of Bryan's cutting road, today's Hillcrest Quarry Rd) and Gracefield was the wedged shaped town common, later a gravel reserve, with a narrow frontage to Boundary Rd and a wider frontage to today's Pindara Rd east of Seawind Lane. I don't believe the valuable properties were across Bryan's cutting because there would only have been James McKeown's Gracefield west to Caldwell Rd.

The road would have been Boundary Road, the boundary between sections 1 and 3, Kangerong.Bounded by Boundary, Jetty and Palmerston Rds was Charles Barnett's grant, c/a 13 section 1, Kangerong. This almost 37 acre property was subdivided quite early and you'll never guess what the name of the estate was-or perhaps you will!

A public meeting to advocate the
inclusion in the Railway Bill of the
surveyed line from Mornington to
Point Nepean, via Dromana, Rosebud,
Rye and Sorrento, was held in the
Mechanics' Institute on Tuesday
evening last. There was a large
attendance and Mr H. W. Wilson
occupied the chair.
The following resolutions were
carried unanimously:-(1) That the
meeting appoint a deputation to wait
upon the Minister of Railways to ask
for the inclusion in the Railway Bill
of the surveyed line from Mornington
to Point Nepean, via Dromana, Rose
bud, Rye and Sorrento.
(2) That Messrs Rudduck, Boag,
Gibson, and Wilson be appointed as a
deputation and that they use every
possible effort to obtain the insertion
of the line in the Bill.
(3) In the event of the Minister
being unable to receive the deputation
that the Member for the district be
requested to move in the House, that
this line be inserted, and that the
co-operation of every member be
obtained. (P.3, Mornington Standard, 5-7-1890.)

The railway never eventuated but the name for the subdivision of Barnett's grant was, of course, the RAILWAY ESTATE. Description of properties was so inadequate in 1900 that Mrs M.A.Dyson's 26 acres, Kangerong could have been anywhere. In 1910 this same person was described as a boarding house keeper, as was Mrs M.E.Dyson, the former being assessed on 15 acres and buildings and the latter on land, Railway Estate.

Lack of information in rate records and concerning years from Colin McLear in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA re construction of houses make it difficult to determine if the houses on Melbourne Brindle's pre 1918 map of Dromana were built by 1898 when the fire caused such devastation. As he was born in 1904, his memories probably date from 1910 onwards.

Bob Dyson's house on the future Panoramic Estate, fronted the east side of Jetty Rd (known as Pier St in early days)a block or two from Boundary Rd. Also on the east side were Clydesdales' house south of Palmerston Avenue, Harry Kop (Copp), and Dyson's Boarding House (Marna, said to be on the Pier/Charles St corner by Colin McLear,obviously near Marna St, and to have been built circa 1890 by the current CONTEXT citation.) Farther east was Boag's and Wainwright's "Melrose" on the south side of Palmerston Avenue close to the location of the Kangerong Avenue bridge over the Freeway and Fig St. If the fire had crossed north west into the Railway Estate the properties in danger may have been those of George Dyson, west corner of Boundary and Jetty Rds, then heading west, Miss Talbot, John Dyson and Wades.Jonah Griffith's property was near the middle of the triangle and the "Parsonage" and Wens The Manse were on the south side of Palmerston Rd heading towards Boundary Rd.

A CHRONOLOGY.
1994.
ONE FOR DISPLAY AND ONE FOR COSMO?
Practical.—Those who are anxious to try their luck at fossicking and digging, but are lacking the necessary knowledge, will (says the Argus), be interested to know that Mr. Cosmo Newbery is having made roughly, as a digger would make them, a sluice-box and a cradle. They will be finished in a day or two, when they will be on view at the side of the Public Library, Swanston-street, or at his office opposite the entrance gates. It is not generally known that the technological department of the library contains specimens of most of the kinds of gold-bearing quartz, wash-dirt, and precious stones, etc., found in Victoria, as well as models of gold-saving appliances, from the early single stamper to a miniature battery.These are to be found in a room on the right
hand of the new picture gallery.(P. 2, Bendigo Advertiser, 9-3-1894.)
N.B.The desire to try fossicking was prompted by the 1890's depression and massive unemployment, as were the Village settlements such as at RED HILL near Dromana. Benjamin Franklin Eaton, brother of the late Watson Eaton (Dromana's amateur but much loved doctor) had come to Dromana from Creswick and it's a good bet that he met up with Cosmo at TUBBARUBBA where there had been a rush about three decades earlier.

AN ALLUVIAL LEAD AT DROMANA.
Mr. Cosmo Newbery called upon the Secretary for Mines yesterday, and stated that during a recent visit to Dromana he learned that heavy alluvial wash had been struck by some prospectors working in a creek near Arthur's
Seat. He inspected the ground, and saw that the wash contained gold. Mr. Newbery says it appears to be the continuation of an old lead, and not a mere creek wash. The Government geologist has been instructed to visit the locality and report on the discovery.(P.5, The Age, 16-5-1894.)

I wonder from where Cosmo had been removed to his St. Kilda home. Any chance it might have been Dromana and Cosmo had been over-exerting himself near a creek?
The many friends of Mr J Cosmo Newbery will regret to hear of his serious illness.On December 14 Mr Newbery was suddenly seized with a severe attack of hemorrhage, and was removed to his residence in Hotham street, St. Kilda, where the services of Mr O'Hara were immediately called into requisition. Mr O'Hara was the surgeon who attended Mr Newbery after the lamentable Windsor accident when the unfortunate gentleman sustained a fracture of the spine. Such cases are practically given up as incurable, but under medical treatment Mr Newbery recovered, although it is to be feared that the effects of the accident always affected his health. It seriously compromised his present chances of recovery. We are, however, glad to state that yesterday a very marked improvement in his condition was reported, and Mr O'Hara has every hope of his complete recovery.
(P.7, Argus, 22-12-1894.)

1895.NO MENTION OF THE FAMILY AT DROMANA.
COSMO'S OBITUARY
Briquettes, Hmmm!

A PROPOSED MEMORIAL

WHAT A TRIBUTE!

FLO HAS A GO!
The widow of the late Mr. J. Cosmo Newbery petitioned the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday on behalf of herself and children on the grounds that Mr. Newbery sacrificed his private interests in the zealous performance of his
public duties, that his death was primarily due to the Windsor railway accident, and that a promise made by the Gillies Government to supplement the compensation he received for his injuries in the railway accident by
giving him the status of a civil servant was never fulfilled.(P.24, Leader, 9-11-1895.)

WILFRED APPARENTLY MISSED HIS DAD'S FUNERAL.
Amongst the numerous floral tributes sent to Mr Cosmo Newbery's funeral was one which bore the following inscription:- "From the boys of Queen's College, St. Kilda, with sincere regret and much sympathy." Mr Newbery hadacted for some years as one of the judges at the annual athletic sports meetings of Queen's, and his only son (who is now on an exploring expedition in the centre of Australia) was educated at the school.
(P.2, Weekly Times, 11-5-1895.)

COSMO'S FUNERAL ON MAY 3

1896.
DROMANA.
On Thursday evening, 18th June, a capital entertainment was given in the Mechanics' Institute under the auspices of the members of the Hope of Dromana, Juvenile Tent, I.O.R., who received ready and efficient help from
Mrs. and the Misses Newbery and Miss Hodgkinson, who got up several tableau;
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 25-6-1896.)

1898.
DROMANA SHOW.
For the 13.2 pony, to be ridden by children, 13 competitors paraded the ring, which was really worthy of a higher prize. Master Ben Wilson secured First and Miss Elvia Newberry second.
(P.3, MORNINGTON STANDARD, 24-3-1898.)

THE FIRE as detailed before the chronology.

1899.