Person

Robertson, John George (1803 - 1863)

Born
15 October 1803
Glasgow, Scotland
Died
4 July 1863
Baronald, Scotland
Occupation
Botanical collector and Pastoralist

Summary

John Robertson was a pastoralist and botanical collector who arrived in Tasmania in 1831. His early botanical contacts in Tasmania were Ronald Gunn, and Robert Lawrence, for whose property Formosa near Launceston he was Manager. In 1840 Robertson left Tasmania, becoming one of the earliest settlers in western Victoria. He acquired the property Wando Vale near Portland. He continued his collecting activities, particularly along the Glenelg and Wando Rivers. In 1854 he sold his property and returned to Scotland. Many of his collections were sent to William Hooker and are now in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

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Details

Chronology

1831
Life event - Arrived in Tasmania
1831 - 1840?
Career position - Manager of Formosa, property of Robert W. Lawrence, near Launceston
1840 - 1854
Career position - Pastoralist at Wando Vale, near Portland, Victoria
February 1840
Life event - Left Launceston
1854
Life event - Sold the property and returned to Scotland

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Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Rupp, H. M. R., 'An early Victorian botanist [John Robertson]', Victorian naturalist, 58 (2) (1941), 30-1. Details

See also

Helen Cohn

Created: 29 September 2026

EOAS ID: biogs/P008164b.htm

This Edition: 2026 August - Bibliographies
Larneuk - Gariwerd calendar - Pre-spring: late July to August - season of nesting birds
Reference: https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/indigenous-weather-knowledge/indigenous-seasonal-calendars/gariwerd-calendar#bom-anchor-list__item-larneuk-season-of-nesting-birds

Publisher: Swinburne University of Technology.

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