They were divorced in November 1929 at the Supreme Court the decree absolute was published on 6 November 1929.
But, sorry I can't tell you what happened to him after that. Did he pay child support? The courts would have record of that with his address.

Thank you so much. I appreciate your response so much.That is one piece of information more than I had already. His wife, Bertha, remarried in 1930, so it looks probable she may have initiated divorce proceedings.

I am very doubtful that he paid child support.He seems to have simply disappeared without further contact.

I found a number of Frank Newman references on electoral roles but, with such scant information, had no way of knowing if any of them was him.

It does nor seem he was legally remarried in the seven years between his son's birth and and the divorce.

When the divorce was going on there would have been mention of the child Richard and the judge would have ordered Frank to pay.
You need to get hold of the divorce papers. I couldn't find a marriage either.
On the Rolls you can rule out Frank Newman at Mascot he married Catherine Hollingshead in 1926.

Thank you again so much. Frank's son was Robert Frederick Newman, born March 1922(now deceased)

Thank you for going to so much trouble, and also for the tip on who to rule out. Again, I appreciate it. I will continue to follow up and see what I can find

Would it not be possible that divorce was granted after so many years, even if the solicitors were not able to locate Frank to serve notice on him? He had been gone about seven years by then.

Yes, that is called an Ex parte divorce she would have had to show that she had given adequate notice to the missing spouse.
The intention would have been advertised. I didn't see it. Also after seven years she could have declared him dead. I think he was there because the notices I saw didn't indicate it was Ex Parte.
You need the papers - They were lodged with the Supreme Court of NSW on the 28 November 1929 and the file number is 167/26.
I'll keep looking for you, perhaps I have overlooked a notice.

Thank you again. I apologize for my lack of expertise, especially in regard to divorce records and how to access them. I have been trying to find a reference to the divorce without success so far. Thank you for the extra information.

Thank you. I have finally located the right site to print an application form to obtain the papers I need. If anybody reading this has the same problem I have had in looking for New South Wales divorce records from 1873 to 1930 and the year 1970 only, try typing in on your computer "Divorce Case Papers photocopy order form". That will take take you to New South Wales State Records and enable you to print out an order form with ease from that site.

I have the documents from State records now. Frank was never found to personally serve notice on him, so the divorce eventually went forward in his absence. His wife and other witnesses reported he had said he was born in Sydney of English 'parents' who took him back to England as an infant where he later served in the British Navy prior to returning to Australia (no dates known). On his 1921 wedding certificate, however,only one parent, his mother Mabel Newman, is listed and father listed as unknown, so perhaps his mother married after he was born. Frank was reported to have been a serious alcoholic who could not hold down a job and moved about a lot. His last known address was a boarding house in Casino New South Wales in 1922. Prior to that he had worked briefly as a dairyman, labourer and painter in Ballina and Lismore New South Wales and been fired from each job because of alcoholism. Apart from his wife and child, nobody knew of any relatives. I have not been able to find any further information on him or his mother Mabel Newman.