Robert Stevens photographer

[sparrett]

Hi Betty,
If your mother is now deceased, it may be a helpful point to start with if you could give details on their marriage certificate.
It will contain information given by your father about himself, and may just  contain a clue to move forward with.


Sue
 

[Ruskie]

Some familiar names here from NSW BMD indexes, though they don't tally with what you've told us:

Birth
STEVENS  RITA I
birth registered 1913
father: ROBERT C
Mother: ORELLIA M
District: REDFERN

And this one registered in both Murwillumbah and Lismore in 1914:

STEVENS  RITA F
mother: KATHLEEN O
No father named

They may fit into your tree somewhere.

[rosball]

Betty,
  Do you know where and approx when Walter died?  I think you were also suggesting that there could have been a name change?

  On browsing through the probates for Walter Stevens in NSW https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/ I notice that there are a couple with alternative names given.
   https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/item/1011824
   https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/item/1117286

If you see a likely probate record for him (have a look at the rest too) then I can photograph it for you.

Ros

[majm]

At the New Zealand Archives online index there’s a digitised NZ Defence Force WWI file for a Robert STEVENS,  SA9827, WWI  17/187 Army.

https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/

....
Robert was in the first WW. I know not where, as like so many of his time, little was said. It would appear (through friend's tracking) that he left Sydney for Wellington, NZ, in 1921. ....

JM

[BettyBoops]

Dad (Robert) died 18 June 1984. Mum (Myrtle nee MAYFIELD) died 12 Dec 2002.
Wedding Certificate details re Robert -
Married 6 Dec 1941 in Childers - Robert listed as labourer (cutting cane in the Isis District)
  Bachelor - 46yrs - DOB 20 April 1895 - BIRTHPLACE Sydney - FATHER Walter - MOTHER Kathleen (nee Johnstone)

Cheers, Betty

[majm]

…. The Mayor then presented Mr Murphy with the address, which was exquisitely printed and illuminated by Mr W Stevenson, photographer of Grafton and handsomely framed….
Daily Examiner, Grafton 17 Oct 1929. 
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195243621

From the Electoral Roll, 1930, COWPER, polling at Grafton
Walter Thomas George STEVENSON, 72 Fitzroy St, photographer
Eldred Lionel STEVENSON, 72 Fitzroy St, photographer

From Sands NSW 1925 Directory
W STEVENSON, photographer, GRAFTON  (I could NOT find an entry for STEVENS, photographer, Grafton, sorry).

From Sands NSW 1919 Directory for GRAFTON and GRAFTON SOUTH
W STEVENSON, Photographer

From Sands NSW Country Directory 1909
W STEVENSON, photographer, GRAFTON

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/search-our-collections/sands-directory

From NSW Electoral roll 1902 COWPER, polling Grafton
Angelina STEVENSON, Fitzroy Street, domestic duties
Water STEVENSON, Fitzroy Street, photographer

There are electors with surname STEVENS at that polling place, but NONE with given names Walter or Robert and NONE with occupation as photographer.

JM

[BettyBoops]

Oh, and as they were living in Gosford when Dad was growing up, and Walter's photography business was somewhere in Sydney, I assume Walter and Kathleen died in Sydney. As Dad was a member of the CofE choir, again, I assumed the family were of that faith - or maybe Catholic.

[majm]

NSW Electoral Roll 1902 NORTH SYDNEY, polling at Gosford

NO entries for the surname STEVENS or variations.

JM

[BettyBoops]

JM - I have done some tracking of Walter (Thomas George) STEVENSON and he had a son, Eldrid and daughter, Violet. Father was Josiah and Mother-Georgina. Married in Grafton. I almost suspected he was of Jewish decent. I don't know if there were other children to the marriage. Ta, Betty.
I'll be back in a couple of hours.