Shep's Place Family Tree

He is survived by a widow and five children Dr. Lionel Robertson, Perth, Harold and Raymond Robertson ‎(Adelaide)‎, the Rev. T. Gordon Robertson B.A. ‎(North Sydney)‎ and Mrs. George Hargreaves ‎(Melbourne)‎. Mr. Robertson who was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson was taken suddenly ill in Sydney a few days ago, and the doctors held out little hope for his recovery. During his stay in South Australia where much of his life's work was done, he was exceedingly well liked. It was no sinecure to follow such celebrated preachers as the Revs. T. Q. Stow and W. Roby Fletcher at Stow Church but Mr. Robertson quickly endeared himself to the members of his congregation, and the thoughtful and scholarly evangelical addresses which he delivered week after week stamped him as one of the ablest pulpit teachers in the state.

He was born in London on February 24, 1849. His, parents were of Scotch extraction, and belonged to that section of the kirk which followed Dr. Chalmers during the disruption of the Church of Scotland. After their removal to London however, they became connected with the church of the late Rev. Samuel Marten. They emigrated first to Queensland but shortly after removed to Sydney. After leaving school Mr. Robertson was employed for five years in the office of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Mail Company. While thus engaged he attended a foreign mission meeting at which a stirring address was delivered by the Rev. James Chalmers, the veteran New Guinea missionary. This made an impression upon his mind and he determined to devote himself to missionary work. With that end in view he became a student at the evening classes of the Sydney School of Arts, and still retained his position in the shipping office. He spent fifteen months in this way and during that time took prizes in English, Latin and Greek. He then engaged the Rev. B. Quaife to give him a years private tuition and entered as a student at Camden College where he remained five years, the last three of which were concurrent with his curriculum at the Sydney University.

He graduated B.A. in 1873, and took his M.A.degree in 1877. On the completion of his University course Mr. Robertson was offered and accepted the pastorate of the Congregational Church, Hawthorn, Victoria where he remained for three years. He was next called to the Auckland Congregational Church, a position which he filled with signal success for ten years, the building having to be enlarged on two occasions during his pastorate. While in New Zealand he assisted in forming the Congregational Union, and was its first Chairman. He was requested on several occasions to return to Australia, but declined to do so until 1886 when he accepted a call to the Petersham church, New South Wales. During his ministry in that suburb about £4,000 was spent in enlarging the church and erecting a fine organ.

On his arrival in Adelaide in August 1890, Mr. Robertson entered prominently into the public life of that city, suburbs and country, and was actively connected with the committees and boards of various institutions for the welfare of the people. He was Chairman of the Congregational Union in 1895-6. In Queensland he had 14 churches and four assistant ministers. Three of his sons saw active service. The youngest, the late Major S. Beresford Robertson was one of the first Australians to land at Gallipoli. Two hours after landing he was in charge of the 9th. Bat. and led his men all day and after being wounded three times he was fatally hit.

The Rev.Gordon Robertson was for some time the only Australian Chaplain to minister to about 8,000 troops, the others all being either ill or wounded. Mr. H. Ross Robertson had wonderful luck in the matter of escapes at the war............"

The remainder of this obituary was not forwarded to EMS in 1964 supplied by Lewis Jones, secretary of Stow Church, Adelaide.

‎[The allusion above to the supposed relationship with Robert Louis Stevenson is a family myth. E.M.S. researched the myth very thoroughly but was not able to find any reliable connection.]‎