Robertson, Sir John, 1816 – 1891

Sir John Robertson (1816-1891), pastoralist, parliamentarian and Premier of NSW, was born at London, son of James Robertson and his wife Anna Maria, nee Ripley. The family migrated to Sydney in 1822. He travelled to England and Europe between 1833 and 1835 returning to work on the land with his father at Jerry's Plains on the Hunter River. He traversed much of the inland areas of NSW and in 1838 represented the Namoi pastoralists in Sydney to protest against the prohibition of further expansion beyond the boundaries of location in the colony.

Robertson was a supporter of responsible government for the colony with a keen interest in land. He was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seats of Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh (1856-1859), The Upper Hunter (1859-1861), Shoalhaven (1862-1864), West Sydney (1864-1866), The Clarence (1866-1869), West Sydney (1869-1877), East Macquarie (1877-1878), and Mudgee (1877-1878, 1882-1886). He was appointed a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1861, 1878-1881). He held a number of ministries and was Premier and Colonial Secretary on four separate occasions (1860-1861, 1875-1877, 1877, 1885-1886). [ref:ADB 6]