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Robe History and Heritage
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| Robe
History independant and impartial travel guide for Robe, |
| Robe was officially proclaimed
in 1847, and named after Major Frederick Holt Robe, Governor of South
Australia, who had selected the site in 1846. Soon after the town
was proclaimed, woolgrowers moved in and the surrounding area became
dotted with homesteads. Business was brisk and bullock teams, bringing
in the wool or wheat were a common sight. The town grew quickly and many fine building were erected in the anticipation of continued prosperity. The decline in the Gold rush and the decision not to bring the railway line to Robe bought development in Robe to a standstill. Today many of Robes fine historic buildings survive and in terms of the number of historically important buildings recognised by the National Trust, Robe ranks foremost in South Australia. |
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Robe has traditionally been the summer holiday resort for many wealthy Adelaide residents who stayed at the port during the summer months to escape the heat. One of whom was Governor Sir James Ferguson. He stayed at Karatta House, originally built by Henry Jones in 1858. Another of the early buildings was The Lodge, completed in 1850 as a residence and butcher shop. Karratta House (pictured upper right) is now open to the public |
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In the late 1850's, during the gold rush , approximately 17000 Chinese landed in Robe on their way to the Victorian diggings. They preferred to walk the 150 km to the gold fields across the Victorian border and avoid paying $20 tax, which they would have to pay if they had disembarked in Melbourne. The legacy of their brief visit still remains in Robe today. The influx of large numbers into the town prompted the building of a large jail which was never used to its full potential. It quickly fell into disrepair and was all but demolished. Local groups have restored the foundations of the jail and is now a listed historical site in Robe | |