Major Newman left Pontville to his eldest son, Charles, and Monkton to his other son, Thomas. Thomas died in 1869.
Newman went to live in Melbourne during the 1850's and built another house at Hawthorn in 1860. He lived there until his death in 1866. This house is still standing at 14 Lennox Street, Hawthorn.
1983 06 DTHS Newsletter
Monckton
Where Deep Creek flows into the Yarra, two homesteads, Pontville and Monkton (usual spelling Monckton), stood on adjoining hills.
One hundred and thirty years ago, Major Charles Newman had been offered a land grant for his services to the Crown. In search of land, he set out from Heidelberg, and went north of the Yarra, hacking his way through dense scrub. Across the river, fertile flats on the bank of a creek, and rich green hills attracted him. At that time the only river crossing was a ford alongside where the Banksia Street bridge now stands.
In the early 1840's Major Newman built his homestead, Pontville, the first permanent house to be built in the Doncaster-Templestowe area. It is still standing in good condition. Built of stone in the homestead style the house is well proportioned, with clean simple lines. A high-hipped roof covering house and verandahs, gives character to the building. At the front a high stone wall forms one side of a courtyard, where in its heyday was an attractive garden. From here, stone steps led down to the creek, winding through a terraced garden. At the rear was another courtyard, enclosed on two sides by a fence of hewn pickets and on the other by the kitchen; this was a later addition, built of timber. A large stone chimney housed an open fireplace and oven.
About ten years later, Major Newman built Monkton on a hill across the creek. This house, also of stone, was built on the conventional lines of the day. Four rooms with a passage down the centre, a front verandah and rear section with skillion roof. Like Pontville, the stonework was rough and covered with plaster, although instead of shingles the roof was slate.
Monkton was demolished in June this year (1968), but Pontville is still standing, although its character has been changed by renovations enclosing the homestead type verandas.
Artist: RossTownsend. Owned by: Carl Webster. The house appearance is based of a photo that appeared in The Age in 1933, as well as various description Carl found.
The Picture shows Monckton on the hill overlooking the Newman grave sites.
Thomas Newman
There are some records of a Thomas Newman traveling travelling to HOKITIKA, New Zealand in Sep 1867, New Zealand in Sep 1867 (Age 27) which fits with his age at the time.
Interestingly in Wikipedia it specifically mentions HOKITIKA being the busiest in Sep 1867. The town was founded on Gold Mining is 1864. It could be possible that he may have travel there for work and might have been some sort of police officer.
Interestingly in Wikipedia it specifically mentions HOKITIKA being the busiest in Sep 1867. The town was founded on Gold Mining is 1864. It could be possible that he may have travel there for work and might have been some sort of police officer.
Email from Carl Webster Feb 2021 to DTHS
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