George Augustus Robinson

Brief description

PER-156

Full description

George Augustus Robinson was born on 22 March 1788, probably in London. On 28 February 1814 he married Maria Amelia Evans, and appears to have been involved in the building trade at this time. Early in 1822 he considered emigration to America, but instead travelled to Hobart Town, arriving in January 1824 and setting up as a builder. His wife and five children joined him in April 1826. In Hobart he became secretary of the Seamen’s Friend and Bethel Union Society, joined the committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society, and was involved in the founding of the Mechanics’ Institute.(1) In March 1829 George Augustus Robinson was appointed to a government position charged with effecting conciliation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal population. On 30 March he left for Bruny Island, and then continued with expeditions throughout Tasmania and to the Bass Strait islands, with the intention of befriending and then persuading the remaining Aboriginal people to surrender to government control in return for refuge from the depredations of settlers, bushrangers, and sealers, and the provision of food and clothing. They were housed at a settlement on Flinders Island where the objective was to 'save the Tasmanian race' through the instillation of the Christian religion and European customs and values. By 1835 fewer than 150 Tasmanian Aboriginals remained from an estimated population of 4,000 prior to European settlement.(2) On 31 January 1838 Lord Glenelg conferred the office of NSW Chief Protector of Aborigines upon George Augustus Robinson, specifying that this position should be principally located at Port Phillip.(3) In February 1839 Robinson left Flinders Island to take up his new position, in which he remained until 31 December 1849 when the Protectorate was abolished.(4) In May 1852 he sailed for London, his wife having died in 1848. In June 1853 he married Rose Pyne, and thereafter lived on the Continent, mostly in Rome and Paris, until 1858 when they returned to England, the following year settling in Bath, where he died on 18 October 1866.(5) FOOTNOTES 1.Australian Dictionary of Biography, Douglas Pike (ed), Volume 2 : 1788-1850, I-Z, Melbourne University Press, 1967, p.385 2.ibid, p.386-7 3.Historical Records of Australia, Series 1, Vol 19, July 1837-January 1839, The Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1923, p.253 4.Australian Dictionary of Biography, op cit, p.387 5.ibid

Notes

Protector of Aborigines Tasmania
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Port Phillip