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Heritage WalkRobe’sBlueCeramicPlaquesTheblueplaquesonRobe’solderbuildingsdescribetheirorigins,earlyoccupants&placeinthehistoryofthisuniquecoastaltown.TheRobeBranchoftheSouthAustralianNationalTrust,whichlaunchedthisprojectwiththekindcooperationthebuildingowners,hopesitwillhelpprovideinsightintolifeinRobe,especiallyduringtheboomyearsofthemid-19thcentury.Robeisblessedbothinitsnaturalsetting&somewell-preservedearlystreetscapes.Belowissomehistoricalcontextforviewingtheplaques,followedbydetailsofasuggestedwalk.“TheGatewaytotheSouthEast”Fromthe1830s,aspastoralsettlementspreadacrosstheColonyofSouthAustralia,therichgrazinglandsoftheSouthEastwerekeenlysoughtforraisingcattleandsheep.Wool-growers,inparticular,demandedanaccessiblesea-sportfortheirproduce,leadingtoasurveyofpossiblesites.GuichenBay,whereRobenowstands,waschosenasthesafestanchorageonthisrugged&oftendangerouscoast.NamedafterSAGovernorofthetime,thePortofRobewasofficiallyproclaimedin1847.Sailingshipsthrongedheretocollectwool,hides&tallow,transportedbybullockwagonsfromacrosstheSouthEast&evenWesternVictoria.Anotherexportwashorsesbredinthedistrict&shippedtoIndiaasarmyre-mounts.Forthesettlerstheshipsbroughttools,buildingmaterials&manynecessitiesoflife,&tookpassengersto&fromthedistrict.AGovernmentResident,CaptainButler,wasappointedtooverseeRobetownandthesurroundinghinterland.SuperintendentTollmerledatroopofpolice&aHarbourMaster,CaptainMelville,wasresponsibleforcollectingcustomsdues.Theoriginaltownwaslaidoutaroundtheport,sitedbelowtheCustomsHouseonRoyalCircus.TheProsperous1850sand‘60sThethrivingPortofRobeattractedvibrantbusiness

talent,providersofvariedcommodities&services,teamsters,pastoralists,summervisitors,immigrantworkers&manycolourfulcharactersdrawntothelivelylifeofthetown.GeorgeOrmerodwastheleadingshippingmerchantwhosevisionbuiltRobeintooneofSA’sforemostports,shippingwooldirectlytoLondon.Anotherprominentfigure,GeorgeLord,establishednumerousbusinesses&‘villages’beyondtheoriginalRobetown.Amenitiessuchasbanks,aninsurancecompany&theMagneticTelegraphStationwereallestablishinthisperiod.Harbourfacilitiescontinuedtobeimproved.FromJanuary1857throughtoAugust1863sawsomeofRobe’smostexoticarrivals.Over16,000Chinesegold-seekerslandedinRobetoavoidpayingthe10poundVictorianpolltax.TheycampedintheareabeforewalkingoverlandtotheVictorianGoldfields.TheygaveagreateconomicboosttothetownandalthoughRedcoatSoldiersweresenttokeeporder,fearsoflawlessnesswereunfounded.Astrongsocial&culturallifeevolved,reflectedinthediversityofpublicbuildingsfromthistime.Enthusiasmfor‘improving’activitiesintheTownledtopublicdemandforanInstitute,meanwhilemeetingswereheldinthePresbyterianKirk,oneoffourChurchesbuiltintown.SeveralsmallprivateschoolsprecededtheopeningofRobe’sfirstGovernmentSchoolin1871.NumerousInnswerebuiltin&aroundRobeto

caterforteamsters,visitors&associalmeetingplaces.Bothnecessities&luxuriescouldbepurchasedintheRobeshops.Concerts,Balls&Racemeetingsreacheditshighpointinthe1860’swhenSAGovernorFergusonspenthissummersinRobe.Thislivelyperiodofprosperitylastedonlyuntilthe1870s,whenwiderdevelopmentintheSouthEast,notablywiththeintroductionoftherailways,diminishedtheroleofcoastalshipping&Robe’sstatusasasocial&commercialhub.Uptothemid

1900s,Roberevertedtoaratherquietvillage&close-knitcommunitywheretheambienceofitsboomyearshaslargelybeenwellmaintained.Plaquesfurtherafield

Therearenoteworthybuildingsnotincludedinthiswalkwhicharefurtherfromthetowncentre.Theseinclude“Lakeside”whichwasbuiltbetween1882&1885forAffleck,who,uponinheritinganEnglishbaronetcy&thefortunewithit,wastransformedfromanexistenceasoneofRobeslabourersinaplainstonecottage.UnderthetermsoftheinheritancehechangehisnametoDanby,andonhisreturntoRobeimportedfineteak,oak,marble&brass,whichareallincorporatedin“Lakeside”.ThelargeMarbleBathtubcanbeseenattheRobeHotel.TheBushInn(onyourrightbeforetheKingstonturnintersection)wasusedasastoppingplacebywoolteamstersenroutetoRobe.TheInnprosperedduringRobe’sheydayasaport,declining,likeRobeitself,duringthe1870sastrafficdiminishedalongthemainroadtotheport.TheInnwasfirstlicensedin1861,continuingas“Mac’sHotel”fro,1862-1864&finallyasthe“Carrier’sArms”from1865-1871.DingleyDellontheNoraCreinaRoadwasbuilt&namedinabout1862byGeorgeKendlefromthe“Murra-Binna”Run.In1865AlexanderTolmercametolivetherewithhiswifeMary,whenhewasCrownLandsRanger.Afterhiswifediedheremarriedin1869&startedanotherfamilyat“DingleyDell”,whichTolmerdescribedas“aconvenientcottagewithaspareroom”.WilliamDawsonlaterboughtDingleyDell&nearby“Bellevue”,bothhousesbecomingpartofthenotedC.S.I.R.O.FieldStation

SMILLIE STREET: Robe Institute (also Robe Public Library & Visitor Information Centre), Grey Mast, Davison’s Shop, Horse Shoe Forge, Criterion Hotel (now Cornerstone & Criterion Cottages), Campbell Cottages, Bank House, OrmerodCottages, Old Police Station & Stables also the back view of the Robe Hotel

MUNDY TERRACE: Robe Hotel, Magnetic Telegraph Station and on the Oceanside of the Robe Institute

ROYAL CIRCUS: Customs House, Old Mine and Cannon

HAGEN STREET: Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Church and Robe House

LAKE ROAD: KarattaHouse

STURT STREET: Moorakyne, Skearborst, Free Presbyterian Kirk, St. Peters Anglican Church, Granny Banks’ Cottage, Eltham House & Burr Cottage

DAVENPORT STREET: School in Rotten Row, Bible Christian Chapel, former Uniting Church & George Ormerod’sWoolstores

VICTORIA STREET: Caledonian Inn, South Australian Insurance Company ( now a Café), Wilson’s Saddlery, Old Shops & Residence, Robe Bakery, Attic House, BerminghamCottage, Harbour Master’s Cottage and The Lodge

ELIZABETH STREET: Patsy Ryan’s Cottage

UNION STREET: Robe Primary School, Dr.Penny’s House & Blind Man Barlow’s Cottage

MAIN ROAD: The Lodge, Lakeside & the Bush Inn

NORA CREINA: Dingley Dell ( driving distance)

ASuggestedHeritageWalk

TheInstitute&SmillieStreetTheRobeInstitutesincethe1860’shasbeenanimportantfocusofthetown’ssocial&culturallife.Theplaque&foundationstoneareonthewallawayfromthesea,facingSmillieStreet.TheInstitutewasfundedbypublicsubscription&builtonlandearlierknownastheVillageGreen,atthenearestendoftheoriginallysurveyedRobetown.SmillieStreethasanumberofstylishbuildingscharacteristicofoldRobe.FacingtheInstituteisDavison’sShop,thentheHorseshoeForgeestablishedbybusinessmanGeorgeLord,whowasalsolinkedtotheCriterionHotelnextdoor.NextontheleftsideofSmillieStreetareCampbellCottages,builtbyAlexanderCampbellasworkers’accommodation.Afterasecondstoreywasadded,thebuildinghousedtheNationalAustraliaBank,andthenformanyyearsBackler’sStore.ThefineItalianateBankHousenextdoorwasbuiltfortheBankofSouthAustralia.DiagonallyacrossthenextcrossroadsisthebackoftheRobeHotel,wheretheoldestsectionoftheHotelcanbeglimpsed,datingfromthe1860swhenitwasknownastheBonnieOwl.RoyalCircus&Robe’sPortContinuingupthehill,SmillieStreetleadstothesiteofRobe’soriginalport.OnthecornerofSmillieandCooperStreetareOrmerodCottages,builtbyGeorgeOrmerod,thewoolexportking,tohousehisportemployees.OntheoppositecorneristhePolicePrescient,inwhichtheremainingearlybuildingsarethecourtHouse,StoneCell&attherearthetwo-storeyPoliceStables.RightintoCooperStreet,youwillfindtheRoyalCircus;imaginetheareain1850’&‘60s.Sailingshipsanchoringinthebaydirectlybelow,withpeoplearrivingattheirdestinationorleavingforthePortofAdelaide.CargobeingloadedorunloadedandbullockwagonshaulingtheirloadsaroundtheCircus,dust,noise,excitement,dealsbeingdone&moneybeingmade.TheCustomsHousewhichnowisaMuseumiswellworthavisit.

OntherightdownhillsideoftheRoyalCircus,onMundyTerraceisRobe’soriginalMagneticTelegraphyStationandtheRobeHotel(formerlytheBonnieOwl).OntheOceansideoftheRoyalCircusyouwillfindamonumenttotheChinesegold-seekerswhowereferriedtotheshoreatthisspot.InApril2017the“PaiFang”welcominggatewaserectedcommemorating160yearssincethefirstChinesedisembarkedonourshores.FromthetopoftheRoyalCircusthereisfullviewofRobe’sMarinainLakeButler.Farontheothersideotherthelake,althoughnotvisiblefromhereisthestatelyKarattaHouse,builtbyaprominentpastoralist&atonetimethesummerresidenceofGovernorFerguson.TothewestoftheRoyalCircusinHaganStreetisOurLadyStaroftheSeaCatholicChurch,whereintheearlydays,Sisters’ofMaryMcKillop’sOrderofJosephitesconductedaschool.FacingthechurchisRobeHouse,builtin1847forCaptainButler,theGovernmentResident,whichwasalsothehomeofhissuccessorCaptainBrewer.AcrosstheparkonthebrowofthehilltotherightisMoorakyne,thehomeofshippingentrepreneurGeorgeOrmerod.SturtStreetTurnleftintoSturtStreetwhichhasmanyhistorichouseswithstoriesoftheirown.ThefirstoftheseisSkearborstonthecornerofCooperStreet,furtheralongyouwillfindSt.PetersAnglicanChurch,builtin1859andtheFreePresbyterianKirk.AcrossthestreetfromtheChurchisGrannyBanks’Cottage,whichafterRobeHouseissaidtobethesecondoldestresidenceinRobe.Otherwell-keptearlyhomesinthisstreetincludeElthamHouse&BurrCottage.DavenportStreetTuring left into Davenport Street, the house on the left hand corner was known as the School in Rotten Row. On the right is the former Uniting Church built originally as the Bible Christian Chapel. Downhill on the left is George Ormerod’sWool Store, located behind Grey Masts, the residence on the corner facing SmillieStreet.

VictoriaStreetAtthefootofthehillisVictoriaStreetandwasearlyRobe’smainthoroughfare.ThisisthepointatwhichtheoriginalRobetownendedandthevillageofLordstonwasdevelopedbyGeorgeLord.

VictoriaStreetContinued:Manykeybusinesseswerelocatedhere.Walkingeastwardsoninlandside,theSouthAustralianInsuranceCompanywaswherethereisacafénow.ThelittleshopsonthecornerofElizabethStreethavehadmanyusesincludingacarpentrybusiness&retailstores.DownElizabethStreetontherightisPatsyRyan’sCottage.

ContinuingdownVictoriaStreetisthedistinctiveAtticHouse,establishedasatailoringbusiness.TurningrightintoUnionStreet,youwillfindBlindManBarlow’sCottageandDr.Penny’sHouse.AttheotherendofUnionStreetistheoriginalstonebuildingoftheRobePrimarySchool.

FurtheralongVictoriaStreetisthecharmingBerminghamCottageandthestonecottagewhichispartoftheGuichenBayMotelwasknownastheHarbourMaster’sCottage,namedbyitsearlyownerAndrewMunro.

OnthecornerofMainRoad&SquiresDriveyouwillfindtheLodge,onceabutchershopbutbestknownforaccommodatingthestaffofGovernorFergusonwhenheholidayedatKarattaHouse.

WalkingbackalongVictoriaStreetontheseaside,therearesomehistoriccottages,followedbyRobeBakery,anearlyownerwastheLannamFamily.FurtheralongisWilson’sSaddlery(nowWilson’sGallery),whichwasrenownedintheSouthEastforthequalityoftheirworkmanship.

AttheendofVictoriaStreetisthehistoricCaledonianInn,finishinginMundyTerracewiththeRobeInstitute,whereyouwillalsofindtheRobePublicLibrary&VisitorInformationCentre.

Locality of the Blue Plaques