Newman was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, one of eight children of Emma Ann (née Fisher) and the Rev.

He was educated at Prince Alfred College (PAC), Adelaide (1887–1890) where his art master was James Ashton.

A panelled stained-glass window depicting the Last Supper is still yet to find a new home sensitive to its Christian imagery.

A heritage area dedicated to the church features in the development’s piazza but doesn’t mention Newman who designed it.

[60] His Church of Christ in Marrickville has been demolished after being empty for many years and a million dollars spent in an effort to have it removed for low cost inner city housing.

Newman’s design for a Temperance Hall has been redeveloped as a luxury apartment block and is named in honour of Frederic Chelmsford, a former Governor of NSW.