Robe, South Australia

Robe is a town and fishing port located in the Limestone Coast of South Australia. The town's distinctive combination of historical buildings, ocean, fishing fleets, lakes and dense bush is widely appreciated. Robe lies on the southern shore of Guichen Bay, just off the Princes Highway. At the 2016 census, Robe had a population of 998.[2] Robe is the main town in the District Council of Robe local government area. It is in the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal Division of Barker.

This article is about the town in South Australia. For the associated wine region, see Robe wine region.

Robe
South Australia
Aerial photograph
Robe
Coordinates37°09′51″S 139°45′15″E[1]
Population998 (2016)[2]
Established19 March 1846 (town)[1][3]
Postcode(s)5276
Location
LGA(s)District Council of Robe
RegionLimestone Coast[4]
CountyCounty of Robe[1]
State electorate(s)MacKillop[5]
Federal Division(s)Barker [6]
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
18.1 °C
65 °F		 10.9 °C
52 °F		 631.5 mm
24.9 in
Localities around Robe:
Ocean Guichen Bay Mount Benson
Ocean Robe Mount Benson
Bray
Ocean Nora Creina Nora Creina
Bray
FootnotesClimatic data[7]
Adjoining localities[1]

History

Aboriginal use

European use

Robe, one of the oldest towns in South Australia, was founded by the colonial government as a seaport, administrative centre and village just ten years after the Province of South Australia was established.

Robe was named after the fourth Governor of South Australia, Major Frederick Robe, who chose the site as a port in 1845. The town was proclaimed as a port in 1847. It became South Australia's second-busiest (after Port Adelaide) international port in the 1850s. Robe's trade was drawn from a large hinterland that extended into western Victoria, and many roadside inns were built to cater for the bullock teamsters bringing down the wool, including the 'Bush Inn' still standing on the outskirts of Robe. Exports included horses and sheep skins and wool. The Customs House has been listed on the South Australian Heritage Register since 1980.[8] A stone obelisk was built on Cape Dombey in 1852 to assist ships to navigate safely into the bay. Even so, there have been a number of shipwrecks along the coast in the area. An automatic lighthouse was built on higher ground in 1973.

During the Victorian gold rushes around 1857, over 16,000 Chinese people landed at Robe to travel overland to the goldfields, as Victoria introduced a landing tax of £10 per person (more than the cost of their voyage) to reduce the number of Chinese immigrants. The immigrants then walked the 200 miles (320 km) to Ballarat and Bendigo.

Robe's importance decreased with the advent of railways which did not come to the town. It became a local service centre for the surrounding rural areas. It is still home to a fleet of fishing boats. Especially important are the local lobsters.

Heritage listings

Robe has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

  • Burr Street: Robe Cemetery [9]
  • Cape Dombey: Cape Dombey Obelisk [10]
  • 1A Hagen Street: Robe House [11]
  • 2 Hagen Street: The Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chapel and Schoolroom [12]
  • 7 Karatta Road: Karatta House [13]
  • Main Road: Lakeside [14]
  • Main Road: Lakeside Stables and Coach House [15]
  • Main South Eastern Road: Richmond Park Homestead [16]
  • Millicent Road: Bush Inn [17]
  • 2 Mundy Terrace: Robe Post Office and Telegraph Station [18]
  • Nora Creina Road: The Hermitage [19]
  • Nora Creina Road: CSIRO Field Research Station [20]
  • Nora Creina Road: Dingley Dell (dwelling) [21]
  • Nora Creina Road: Bellevue Homestead [22]
  • Obelisk Road: Robe Gaol Ruins [23]
  • Royal Circus: Royal Circus and Slipwall [24]
  • 1 Royal Circus: Robe Customs House [25]
  • Smillie Street: Robe Institute [26]
  • Smillie Street: Criterion Hotel [27]
  • 8 Smillie Street: Robe Courthouse, Police Station, Old Cells and Stables [28]
  • 10 Smillie Street: Ormerod Cottages [29]
  • 24 Smillie Street: Bank of South Australia Building [30]
  • 26 Smillie Street: Campbell's Shop [31]
  • 32 Smillie Street: Davison's Shop and Residence [32]
  • 38 Smillie Street: Graymasts [33]
  • 4-8 Sturt Street: Moorakyne House [34]
  • 15 Sturt Street: Granny Banks' Cottage [35]
  • 1 Victoria Street: Caledonian Inn [36]
  • 5 Victoria Street: Wilson's Saddlery [37]
  • 18 Victoria Street: Attic House [38]

Environment

Climate

See also

References
  1. "Search results for 'Robe, LOCB' with the following datasets being selected - 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Government Towns', 'Counties', 'Local Government Areas', 'SA Government Regions', 'Railways' and 'Gazetteer'". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. "2016 Census Quickstats Robe (Urban Centre/Locality)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  3. Robe, Fred. H (19 March 1846). "Minute of 18 March 1846 re establishment of towns at Guichen and Rivoli Bays" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. pp. 108–109. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  4. "Limestone Coast SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  5. "District of MacKillop Background Profile". Electoral Commission SA. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  6. "Federal electoral division of Barker" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  7. "Climate Statistics For Robe". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  8. "Nautical Museum (former Robe Customs House)". Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. "Robe Cemetery". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  10. "Cape Dombey Obelisk". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  11. "Robe House (former Government Residence)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  12. "The Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chapel and Schoolroom". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  13. "Dwelling ('Karatta House')". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  14. "Dwelling ('Lakeside')". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  15. "'Lakeside' Stables and Coach House". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  16. "Richmond Park Homestead". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  17. "Former Bush Inn". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  18. "Dwellings (former Robe Post Office & Telegraph Station)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  19. "Dwelling ('The Hermitage' Homestead Complex)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  20. "Former CSIRO Field Research Station (including shed, water tank, yard fencing and gates)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  21. "Dwelling ('Dingley Dell')". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  22. "Dwelling ('Bellevue Homestead')". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  23. "Former Robe Gaol (Ruin)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  24. "Royal Circus and Seawall, including remains of slipway and Chinese Memorial". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  25. "Nautical Museum (former Robe Customs House)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  26. "Robe Institute". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  27. "Dwelling (former Criterion Hotel)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  28. "Robe Courthouse, Police Station, Old Cells & Stables". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  29. "Dwelling ('Ormerod Cottages') (former Old Barracks)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  30. "Bank House (former Bank of South Australia Robe Branch)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  31. "Shop & Cottages (formerly Campbell's Shop)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  32. "Dwelling (former Davison's Shop and Residence)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  33. "Graymasts - Former Woolstore and attached Cottage". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  34. "Dwelling ('Moorakyne House') (former Green Gables)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  35. "Dwelling ('Granny Banks' Cottage') (former Crazy Cottage)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  36. "Caledonian Inn". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  37. "Eating House (former Wilson's Saddlery)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  38. "Office (former Attic House)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 August 2016.

Further reading
  • Susan Marsden (1985) A glimpse of golden days, District Council of Robe: Robe.
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