Robertson, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Robertson is a small town in the Southern Highlands
of New South Wales
, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The town is located on the edge of an elevated plateau (the Illawarra escarpment
) about 35 km from the coast. At the 2006 census
, Robertson had a population of 1,206 people.
Robertson is known for its high annual rainfall and fertile soil. It was previously covered by an extensive temperate rainforest, most of which has been cleared for farming though remnants such as Robertson Nature Reserve
still exist today. The town is colloquially known as Robbo.
The town was once famous for cheese production. Today, the remnants of the industry are seen with one of the old cheese factories remaining in town that has been converted into a commercial row of shops.
Robertson is now more widely known for potato growing and is the home of the "Big Potato".
Robertson is also where the 1995 movie Babe
was filmed.
Robertson is named after former Premier of New South Wales Sir John Robertson, whose 1861 Land Act
cleared the way for the establishment of the town. Before then it was called Yarrawa Bush.
In February or March of each year the Robertson Show is held, featuring the "The Great Australian Potato Race".
In Spring Robertson holds a spring festival, with local gardens open to the public.
Robertson is home to the famous hotel "Fountaindale Grand Manor" a popular hotel, wedding and conference centre.
Fountaindale Grand Manor was originally built in 1924 and opened as Hotel Robertson, has
had an interesting history. The Hotel boasted a nine hole golf course, two tennis
courts, croquet, lawn bowls, billiards, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and an onsite mechanic who looked after guest’s cars during their stay. The hotel won the
“Most luxurious hotel in the Commonwealth” award in 1925, and was the first hotel in
Australia to have phone lines to every room.
The Hotel was built to draw some of the Sydneysiders, who in the past retreated to the cool climate of the Southern Highlands
to escape the heat of a Sydney summer and enjoy the beauty of the countryside. The Hotel was a success and the developer went on to subdivide and develop the local area. This unfortunately was not a success.
In 1930 the hotel was sold and marketed as an exclusive country club and renamed
Ranelagh Country Club after Ranelagh Gardens
in London. However, the Great
Depression made those plans short lived.
In the build up to World War II the hotel became a WRAAF base, serving as a signals
base and a training area for budding pilots. After World War II, the hotel was used as
a hospice
for returned pilots.
The building sold again in 1947 and became, St Anthony's College, a Franciscan
friary
and seminary
, during this period the hotel was also used as a school and
accommodation house run by the monks. It was during this period that the beautiful
stained glass windows, rock walls and fountains were built. These are still in the
building and around the gardens and grounds.
The Hotel has its own railway platform on the Moss Vale
– Unanderra line, which is still used today.
In 1972 the Monks moved to smaller premises in Campbelltown
and the building returned to its intended use as a hotel, named Ranelagh House.
The Hotel was sold again in late 2007, and was renamed Fountaindale Grand Manor and
Ranelagh Gardens, the hotels is undergoing major renovations and refurbishments.
Illawarra Fly
In 15 March 2008, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk opened to the public. It is similar to the Otway Fly, in Victoria. It is perched on the Illawarra escarpment at Knights Hill, located east of Robertson. The tree top walk is joined up with an observation outdoor tower that will allow visitors to see spectacular views of Wollongong. It is expected at approximately 200,000 visitors every year.
The Big Potato
Built in 1977 by local potato grower Jim Mauger, the Big Potato adorns the main street at the eastern end of town. It was modelled on the Sebago potato and is approx ten metres long and four metres wide. The original idea for this structure to contain a Potato Information Centre but due to rising costs this dream was never realised. Recently the locals of Robertson have worked together to turn the surrounding land into a park to be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
On 6 March 2010 a group of young people adorned the potato with a very large face, to help brighten up the tourist attraction for the local agricultural show. It was built in secret during the weeks leading up to the show and even the owners of the potato and the surrounding land had no idea that it was going to happen. Sadly this work of guerilla art was torn town and damaged on its first night and despite requests to rehang the face the artsists considered the damage to be too significant to rehang it, but have not ruled out repairing it and putting it back up for a future special occasion.
CountryLink
buses travel along the Illawarra Highway
, three times a day that have replaced passenger trains, linking the Southern Highlands to Wollongong. The Illawarra Highway winds down the escarpment via the notorious Macquarie Pass
. Robertson would be a major beneficiary of a major upgrade or replacement to Macquarie Pass. Despite most Illawarra and Highland residents strongly supporting a major improvement to the link between Robertson and Albion Park
, no government has shown any interest in such a project.
Southern Highlands, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the Highlands, is a geographical region and district in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. The entire region is under the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The town is located on the edge of an elevated plateau (the Illawarra escarpment
Illawarra escarpment
The Illawarra Escarpment is the fold created cliffs and plateau eroded outcrop mountain range west of the Illawarra coastal plain south of Sydney, Australia, enclosing the region known as the Illawarra which stretches from Stanwell Park in the north to Kiama, Gerringong and the Shoalhaven river in...
) about 35 km from the coast. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Robertson had a population of 1,206 people.
Robertson is known for its high annual rainfall and fertile soil. It was previously covered by an extensive temperate rainforest, most of which has been cleared for farming though remnants such as Robertson Nature Reserve
Robertson Nature Reserve
Robertson Nature Reserve is a rainforest reserve near Robertson, New South Wales, Australia. A remnant of the Yarrawa Brush, once 2,450 hectares in size. This tiny reserve contains 4.5 hectares of original rainforest....
still exist today. The town is colloquially known as Robbo.
The town was once famous for cheese production. Today, the remnants of the industry are seen with one of the old cheese factories remaining in town that has been converted into a commercial row of shops.
Robertson is now more widely known for potato growing and is the home of the "Big Potato".
Robertson is also where the 1995 movie Babe
Babe (film)
Babe is a 1995 Australian-American film directed by Chris Noonan. It is an adaptation of the 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig, also known as Babe: The Gallant Pig in the United States, by Dick King-Smith and tells the story of a pig who wants to be a sheepdog...
was filmed.
Robertson is named after former Premier of New South Wales Sir John Robertson, whose 1861 Land Act
Robertson Land Acts
The Crown Lands Acts 1861 were introduced by the New South Wales Premier, John Robertson, in 1861 to reform land holdings and in particular to break the squatters' domination of land tenure...
cleared the way for the establishment of the town. Before then it was called Yarrawa Bush.
Events
In Spring Robertson holds a spring festival, with local gardens open to the public.
Attractions
Fountaindale Grand ManorRobertson is home to the famous hotel "Fountaindale Grand Manor" a popular hotel, wedding and conference centre.
Fountaindale Grand Manor was originally built in 1924 and opened as Hotel Robertson, has
had an interesting history. The Hotel boasted a nine hole golf course, two tennis
courts, croquet, lawn bowls, billiards, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and an onsite mechanic who looked after guest’s cars during their stay. The hotel won the
“Most luxurious hotel in the Commonwealth” award in 1925, and was the first hotel in
Australia to have phone lines to every room.
The Hotel was built to draw some of the Sydneysiders, who in the past retreated to the cool climate of the Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the Highlands, is a geographical region and district in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. The entire region is under the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire...
to escape the heat of a Sydney summer and enjoy the beauty of the countryside. The Hotel was a success and the developer went on to subdivide and develop the local area. This unfortunately was not a success.
In 1930 the hotel was sold and marketed as an exclusive country club and renamed
Ranelagh Country Club after Ranelagh Gardens
Ranelagh Gardens
Ranelagh Gardens were public pleasure gardens located in Chelsea, then just outside London, England in the 18th century.-History:The Ranelagh Gardens were so called because they occupied the site of Ranelagh House, built in 1688-89 by the first Earl of Ranelagh, Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital ,...
in London. However, the Great
Depression made those plans short lived.
In the build up to World War II the hotel became a WRAAF base, serving as a signals
base and a training area for budding pilots. After World War II, the hotel was used as
a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
for returned pilots.
The building sold again in 1947 and became, St Anthony's College, a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friary
and seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, during this period the hotel was also used as a school and
accommodation house run by the monks. It was during this period that the beautiful
stained glass windows, rock walls and fountains were built. These are still in the
building and around the gardens and grounds.
The Hotel has its own railway platform on the Moss Vale
Moss Vale, New South Wales
Moss Vale is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It has a population of 7,339 and is sited on the Illawarra Highway, which connects to Wollongong and the Illawarra coast via Macquarie Pass...
– Unanderra line, which is still used today.
In 1972 the Monks moved to smaller premises in Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
and the building returned to its intended use as a hotel, named Ranelagh House.
The Hotel was sold again in late 2007, and was renamed Fountaindale Grand Manor and
Ranelagh Gardens, the hotels is undergoing major renovations and refurbishments.
Illawarra Fly
In 15 March 2008, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk opened to the public. It is similar to the Otway Fly, in Victoria. It is perched on the Illawarra escarpment at Knights Hill, located east of Robertson. The tree top walk is joined up with an observation outdoor tower that will allow visitors to see spectacular views of Wollongong. It is expected at approximately 200,000 visitors every year.
The Big Potato
Built in 1977 by local potato grower Jim Mauger, the Big Potato adorns the main street at the eastern end of town. It was modelled on the Sebago potato and is approx ten metres long and four metres wide. The original idea for this structure to contain a Potato Information Centre but due to rising costs this dream was never realised. Recently the locals of Robertson have worked together to turn the surrounding land into a park to be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
On 6 March 2010 a group of young people adorned the potato with a very large face, to help brighten up the tourist attraction for the local agricultural show. It was built in secret during the weeks leading up to the show and even the owners of the potato and the surrounding land had no idea that it was going to happen. Sadly this work of guerilla art was torn town and damaged on its first night and despite requests to rehang the face the artsists considered the damage to be too significant to rehang it, but have not ruled out repairing it and putting it back up for a future special occasion.
Transport
Robertson is served by a railway station on the Unanderra Moss Vale railway line. The railway line is mainly used for freight. Occasionally, a tourist train travels from Sydney to Moss Vale and return (via Wollongong), but is not used in passenger service.CountryLink
CountryLink
CountryLink is the operator of passenger rail services in country New South Wales, Australia and into Queensland and Victoria. It is an operating brand of the Rail Corporation New South Wales, a government-owned entity...
buses travel along the Illawarra Highway
Illawarra Highway
Illawarra Highway connects Wollongong to NSW Southern Highlands. It links Princes Highway and Hume Highway and signed as National Route 48.It is named after the geographical area it crosses, the Illawarra region...
, three times a day that have replaced passenger trains, linking the Southern Highlands to Wollongong. The Illawarra Highway winds down the escarpment via the notorious Macquarie Pass
Macquarie Pass
Macquarie Pass is a 8 kilometre long section of the Illawarra Highway passing through Macquarie Pass National Park. It was opened in 1898.Macquarie Pass links the Southern Highland town of Robertson to the coastal town of Albion Park, descending the Illawarra Escarpment via a very narrow bitumen...
. Robertson would be a major beneficiary of a major upgrade or replacement to Macquarie Pass. Despite most Illawarra and Highland residents strongly supporting a major improvement to the link between Robertson and Albion Park
Albion Park, New South Wales
Albion Park is a suburb in the City of Shellharbour, which is in turn one of the three local government areas that comprise the Wollongong Metropolitan Area, New South Wales, Australia...
, no government has shown any interest in such a project.
Notable residents
- Nathan HindmarshNathan HindmarshNathan William Hindmarsh is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and the Australian Prime Minister's XIII...
: Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
NRL player who grew up in the town. Born in BowralBowral, New South Wales-Attractions:Bowral is perhaps the best known of the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands, and in recent years has become the commercial centre of the Wingecarribee Shire. Bowral is known for its boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants, and rich coffee culture.Bowral is home to the...
. - Ian HindmarshIan HindmarshIan Hindmarsh is a retired Australian rugby league player. He played professionally in the National Rugby League for the Parramatta Eels and the Canberra Raiders as well as Catalans Dragons of the European Super League.Hindmarsh started his career with Parramatta before salary cap restrictions...
: brother of Nathan and retired NRL player. Born in BowralBowral, New South Wales-Attractions:Bowral is perhaps the best known of the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands, and in recent years has become the commercial centre of the Wingecarribee Shire. Bowral is known for its boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants, and rich coffee culture.Bowral is home to the...
. - Noeline BrownNoeline BrownNoeline Brown is an Australian actor and comedian. She has appeared in many films, television shows, plays and radio programs....
: Australian entertainer. - Bob DwyerBob DwyerBob Dwyer is an Australian rugby union coach.Educated at Sydney Boys High School, he coached Sydney club Randwick to four Sydney championship wins before becoming Australia's national team coach. He coached Australia from 1982-83, and again from 1988...
: former Australian Wallabies rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
coach - Brett LeeBrett LeeBrett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
: Australian cricketer, owns property near town - Miriam Margoyles: British-born actress
- Ben QuiltyBen QuiltyBen Quilty is an Australian artist who won the 2011 Archibald Prize.-Biography:Quilty grew up in Kenthurst in Sydney's north-west. He lives and works in Robertson, New South Wales. He is a graduate of the Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney...
: award-winning artist - Carlos BarriosCarlos BarriosCarlos Barrios is an Australian artist, born Carlos Manuel Barrios Rosa in 1966 in San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America.-Early life:Carlos’ father was an archaeologist who introduced him to the art and artifacts of ancient Central American cultures from an early age. Carlos first began to...
: Australian El Salvadoran artist