Charles Robert Ogilvie Cumbrae-Stewart was born on 17 February 1867 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. He was the son of Francis Edward STEWART and Agnes Catherine PARK. His father Francis Edward Stewart came to New Zealand as a child with his parents in the 1830’s from Bristol, England. There he met and married on the 14th Feb 1863 in Christchurch, Agnes Catherine PARK, a New Zealand-born girl.
Frank, Ted, Charlie & Mary Stewart c1877
Charles, the subject of this story, was the third child born to the couple who would go on to have 13 children, only 9 of whom survived to adulthood.
Parents of Charles Robert Ogilvie Cumbrae-Stewart
Charles Robert Ogilvie Cumbrae-Stewart
When Charles heard of the Goldrush in Western Australia he travelled to Coolgardie where he married Sarah-Jane ‘Jean’ BRAY on Christmas Day 25th December 1895 in St Andrews Church Coolgardie. On the marriage certificate Charles stated his occupation as ‘Reuters Agent’. Charles described his father’s occupation as ‘Gentleman’ as did Sarah whose father was George BRAY. Neither of them gave their mothers names nor their age. They never had any children and lived to see their 25th (Silver) wedding anniversary.
Western Australian Goldfields Courier – Coolgardie – 18 January 1896, page 4
Mrs C R Cumbrae-Stewart
Founder of the first progress committee in Coolgardie – One of the first Councillors in Coolgardie. He was involved in many civic projects throughout his life
From STEWART to CUMBRAE-STEWART by Deed poll.
Francis Cumbrae-Stewart was instrumental in the name change from Stewart to Cumbrae- Stewart on the 3rd March 1889. He put the Cumbrae into his name to distinguish himself from another Stewart with the same initials in Melbourne.
In Scotland, Stewart is as common as Smith and Brown, owing to the fact that large numbers of people took it for various reasons. They say in Scotland all Stewarts are not sib (kin) to the King. However according to Frank, his particular branch is, and he once made out that his generation were 13th cousins twice removed to the last of the Royal line. Frank also mentioned that he had no doubt that his family are descendants of the Stewarts of Bute!
Frank said “The origin of ‘Cumbrae’ is as follows: When I came out in 1888, I was astonished to find so many Stewarts and Stuarts, and as I was starting life, I thought some distinctive name was necessary. Dad suggested calling myself “Sutton-Stewart” but that was personal to myself.
After a great deal of thought, I pitched on “Cumbrae” first as connected with the origin of the family, secondly, as not being a surname and therefore not likely to be taken by anyone else. A Deed Poll was executed”
Death 21 May 1922 – Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Charles Robert Ogilvie Cumbrae-Stewart
Mr Charles Robert Ogilvie Cumbrae-Stewart died at Kalgoorlie yesterday after an illness dating back to December last year. The deceased was a conspicuous figure in the early history of the Eastern goldfields. He was born in New Zealand on February 11th, 1868. Coming to Melbourne as a boy he received a commercial education to fit him to take up the position of public accountant and auditor, which occupation he followed throughout his life. Having visited England in 1891, he came to Coolgardie in 1892 and opened business as a stock and share broker.
He was a foundation member of the Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie Stock Exchanges also of the Coolgardie and Hannan’s Clubs, and the Coolgardie Chamber of Mines. He held a commission as a lieutenant in the old Militia forces and volunteered for active service in August 1914. He was rejected for overseas service on account of physical reasons but was retained for home service being associated with the accountancy department for six years at Perth Headquarters. He was one of the chief accountants in his department. After his discharge from the AIF, he came to Kalgoorlie and carried on business as an auditor and accountant. He was an auditor for the Kalgoorlie branch of the RSL. He leaves a wife to mourn her loss. The funeral is appointed to leave St.Johns Cathedral, Kalgoorlie at 11 o’clock this morning. The late Mr. Cumbrae-Stewart had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances on the goldfields as well as in Perth.
C R Cumbrae-Stewart – Photo Danelle Warnock – Kalgoorlie Cemetery
Moya Sharp
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