William Robson (Australian parliamentarian)
Encyclopedia
William Elliot Veitch Robson (23 March 1869 - 29 June 1951) was an Australian parliamentarian and businessman.
, the son of William Robson. He attended Newington College
(1882-1886) and then the University of Sydney
from where he graduated with a BA
in 1889. After serving as an articled clerk he was admitted as a solicitor in 1892. His partnerships were Wallace & Robson and Robson & Cowlishaw. Robson married Ettie Gorman Cusack Whyte in 1894 but she died childless in 1899 and two years later he married Mabel Jackson Wise.
council for ten years from 1898 and was elected mayor in 1899. In August 1905 He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
as the Liberal
member for Ashfield in 1905. He was vocal during the debate on the local government in 1906 and throughout the Newcastle
coal dispute of 1909. In 1920 Robson resigned as an MLA
and moved to the New South Wales Legislative Council
, where he was a member for 31 years.
and Newington College and a committee-member of the Sydney Central Methodist Mission
. From 1924 until 1927 he was a director of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales.
, University Club and Schools Club and in 1902 and 1905 served as President of the Old Newingtonians' Union
. Robson was survived by his second wife and their daughter and two sons when he died at home in Rose Bay
. His son, Murray Robson, served as Opposition Leader in the NSW Parliament.
Early life
Robson was born at Surry HillsSurry Hills, New South Wales
Surry Hills is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills is located immediately south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, the son of William Robson. He attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1882-1886) and then the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
from where he graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1889. After serving as an articled clerk he was admitted as a solicitor in 1892. His partnerships were Wallace & Robson and Robson & Cowlishaw. Robson married Ettie Gorman Cusack Whyte in 1894 but she died childless in 1899 and two years later he married Mabel Jackson Wise.
Political career
Robson served as an alderman on AshfieldAshfield, New South Wales
Ashfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Ashfield is about 9 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield.The official name for the...
council for ten years from 1898 and was elected mayor in 1899. In August 1905 He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Ashfield in 1905. He was vocal during the debate on the local government in 1906 and throughout the Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
coal dispute of 1909. In 1920 Robson resigned as an MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
and moved to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
, where he was a member for 31 years.
Business career
- Chairman - Commercial Union Assurance Co. Ltd
- Chairman - R. H. Gordon & Co. Ltd
- Director - Larke, Hoskins, & Co. Ltd
- Director - Larke, Neave and Carter Pty Ltd
- Director - Grenville Motors Pty Ltd
Church involvement
Robson was an active Methodist Church and attended numerous State annual conferences. He was a council-member of Wesley College, University of SydneyWesley College, University of Sydney
Wesley College is a Protestant co-residential college of over 230 students within the University of Sydney. The College occupies a site on the main campus of the University of Sydney and was built on a sub-grant of Crown Land.- Academic profile :...
and Newington College and a committee-member of the Sydney Central Methodist Mission
Mission Australia
Mission Australia is a provider of family and community services throughout Australia. The organisation has at least 3200 staff, 1,000 volunteers and 300 services in every state and territory of Australia, and is one of the largest community organisations in the nation. It is currently headed by...
. From 1924 until 1927 he was a director of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales.
Private life
He was a member of the Australian ClubAustralian Club
The Australian Club is a private club founded in 1838 and located in Sydney at 165 Macquarie Street. Its membership is men-only and it's the oldest gentlemen's club in the southern hemisphere...
, University Club and Schools Club and in 1902 and 1905 served as President of the Old Newingtonians' Union
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. Robson was survived by his second wife and their daughter and two sons when he died at home in Rose Bay
Rose Bay, New South Wales
Rose Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rose Bay is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Municipal Council and Woollahra Council .Rose Bay has views of both the Sydney...
. His son, Murray Robson, served as Opposition Leader in the NSW Parliament.