Frank Rawling Dymes

  General Notes:

In the 1881 census Frank was a barrister.
He sailed from Fremantle, Australia to Albany, Australia on the SS Franklin arriving 2nd Sep 1883. He then returned to Fremantle in April 1884. 4 weeks later at the end of April returned to Albany. It is not know how long he stayed in Albany but again in Sep 1887 made the Fremantle to Albany trip, then again in May 1888.
Frank was the Consular Agent for the USA stationed in Albany, Australia. He was appointed by the State's Dispatch no 65, 25th Aug 1884. He held the position until at least 1905. In 1907 Frank Dymes encouraged the American Great While Fleet to call in Albany, the only port of call in Western Australia.
Frank was a colorful lawyer and known for his coach and white horses. He established Dymesbury Park, and owned a house on Aberdeen Street where his cab driver Newton Thompson lived.
Frank married Ellen in 1906 aged 56 in Plantagenet, 30 miles north of Albany, Australia.
Plantagenet is a shire noted for wheat, sheep, wine and olives. Frank died here in 1921.
At his death Frank left everything to his sister Ann.
On the10th Mar 1972. an article by Bonnie Hicks about Frank appeared in the Albany Advertiser.

A short biography of Frank Rawling Dymes:
Frank Rawling Dymes, the eldest child of Daniel David and his wife Ann, nee Jackson, was born in Kilpank (?), Madras, while his father was attending to his business as a merchant in India. He was born on 22nd October 1849, was baptised privately on 25th May 1850 and received into the church on 2nd March 1850 at either St. George's Cathedral or St Mary's, Madras. The family returned to London sometime between the births of younger brother Harry in about 1853 and sister Annie about 1858. When the census was taken in 1861, the family were living at 2 Southwick Crescent, Paddington.

On completion of his schooling Frank attended St. John's College, Cambridge, being admitted in September 1868. Although at the time of the 1871 census, still an undergraduate, he was occupying a room at a lodging house at 24 Sackville Street, Westminster. He then trained as a lawyer and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple on 1st May 1875. In 1881 he was practising as a barrister at 1 Hare Court in the Temple. The census of that year gives his private address as The Mellons Hotel, 21-25 Southampton Street, Covent Garden. In November 1880 an advertisement for a concert at Townsend Schoolrooms, Westminster, in aid of a coffee tavern, names Frank as one of the talented amateur performers (see below).

Frank then made a decision to emigrate to Australia and by September 1883 had settled in Albany, Western Australia, and was practising as a solicitor. He continued to practise through the years, acting as American Consul for some time and also serving in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. In November 1909 he was awarded an MA degree by Cambridge University and was admitted by proxy, not returning to England to collect the honour. He entered into the life of Albany, becoming involved with local matters, and in 1888 stood as a candidate in the local council election but was defeated. In 1894 he stood again and was again defeated but was finally elected unopposed for the West Ward at a by-election in 1899. He continued to serve for many years and in 1920 was still a member of the Roads Board.

In March 1903 the Albany Advertiser announced that Frank had bought the White Hart or White Star Hotel in Albany and in November 1905 carried an advertisement that he was looking for a non-resident housekeeper for his home in Lower Stirling Terrace. Was he then already courting his future wife? Eleven months later, on31st October 1906 he married Ellen Belinda, the widow of Captain Peter Hay Nicolson and daughter of John Hassell of Albany. It was a private ceremony in the drawing room of Bella Vue, Brunswick Road. The marriage was not destined to be a long one as Ellen Belinda died in October 1913 and was buried at Albany Memorial Park Cemetery. At that time the couple lived in a house on Hunton Road, Kalgan, Albany.

Albany held a week of events every year and in February 1908 Frank and his wife hosted the ball at the Town Hall. The Princess Royal Sailing Club, which he founded, held a regatta during Albany week and in 1910 Frank was elected Commodore of the club. A bowling club was opened in 1917 and the following year the club season was opened by Frank. Earlier, in 1899 he was elected vice-president of the cricket club. He also owned a holiday home where he grew ornamental grasses, which is now a caravan park called Dymesbury Park. He loved horses and enjoyed exploring on horseback.

On 25th January 1921 Frank died of heart failure at home in Stirling Terrace East at the age of 71. He left his properties to his sister Annie. These included McCartney House and Campion House in Serpentine Road, and Edward House, now Norman House, Albany, also Meerilinga House, Hay Street, W. Perth, which had belonged to his wife.


MISS MARIE MARLITT
Begs to announce a special concert in aid of a
COFFEE TAVERN
At TOWNSEND SCHOOLROOMS, WESTMINSTER
Friday 26th November
Under distinguished patronage and assisted by talented amateurs and professionals. Mesdames (list of names) Messrs Frank Dymes (more names).
Tickets 3d. to 2s. 6d.
Chorus of St. Stephen's Sunday School Girls.

21 November 1880
The Era

Frank married Ellen Belinda Hassell in 1906 in Plantagenet, Australia. (Ellen Belinda Hassell was born in 1843 in Albany, Australia and died in 1913 in Plantagenet, Australia.)