Robe, South Australia

File:Old customs house, Robe, South Australia, 2023.jpg times when individual colonies collected customs duties, is typical of many heritage-listed places in Robe built of local limestone]]

Robe is situated on the ancestral lands of the Buandig and Ngarrindjeri people.{{cite map|title = Aboriginal Australia |last = Horton |first = David R.

|publisher = Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies |url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34356544?selectedversion=NBD23139661 | via = Trove |date = 1996 }}

Europeans founded the town of Robe in 1846, ten years after the Province of South Australia was established, as a seaport, administrative centre and township.

Robe was named after the fourth Governor of South Australia, Major Frederick Robe, who chose the site as a port in 1845. The town was proclaimed as a port in 1847. It became South Australia's second-busiest international port, after Port Adelaide, in the 1850s. Robe's trade was drawn from a large hinterland that extended into western Victoria, and many roadside inns were built to cater for the bullock teamsters bringing down the wool, including the Bush Inn still standing on the outskirts of Robe. Exports included horses, sheep skins and wool. The Customs House has been listed on the South Australian Heritage Register since 1980.{{cite web|title=Nautical Museum (former Robe Customs House)|url=http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16404|publisher=Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources|access-date=5 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035845/http://apps.planning.sa.gov.au/HeritageSearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16404|archive-date=4 March 2016}} A stone obelisk was built on Cape Dombey in 1852 to help ships navigate safely into the bay. Even so, there have been a number of shipwrecks along the coast in the area. An automatic lighthouse was built on higher ground in 1973.

During the Victorian gold rushes about 1857, the Victorian government introduced a landing tax of £10 per person to deter Chinese immigrants{{snd}} more than the cost of their voyage. To bypass the tax, more than 16,000 Chinese people landed at Robe to walk overland for {{convert|320|km|mi|abbr=off}} to the goldfields, mainly at Ballarat and Bendigo.

Robe's importance decreased with the building of railways in the 19th century to Kingston and Beachport, about {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=off}} respectively to its north and south. It continues as a service centre for the surrounding rural areas and home to a fishing fleet: especially important in the local economy is the rocklobster fishery. AFL footballer Jordan Dawson who currently plays for and captain of the Adelaide Crows Football Club also came from Robe.

Robe has many heritage-listed places, including the following:

• Burr Street: Robe Cemetery{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16453 | title=Robe Cemetery | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Cape Dombey: Cape Dombey Obelisk{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16401 | title=Cape Dombey Obelisk | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 1A Hagen Street: Robe House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16407 | title=Robe House (former Government Residence) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 2 Hagen Street: The Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chapel and Schoolroom{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16405 | title=The Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chapel and Schoolroom | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 7 Karatta Road: Karatta House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16403 | title=Dwelling ('Karatta House') | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Main Road: Lakeside{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16450 | title=Dwelling ('Lakeside') | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Main Road: Lakeside Stables and Coach House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16451 | title='Lakeside' Stables and Coach House | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Main South Eastern Road: Richmond Park Homestead{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16471 | title=Richmond Park Homestead | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Millicent Road: Bush Inn{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16454 | title=Former Bush Inn | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 2 Mundy Terrace: Robe Post Office and Telegraph Station{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16410 | title=Dwellings (former Robe Post Office & Telegraph Station) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Nora Creina Road: The Hermitage{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16459 | title=Dwelling ('The Hermitage' Homestead Complex) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Nora Creina Road: CSIRO Field Research Station{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16480 | title=Former CSIRO Field Research Station (including shed, water tank, yard fencing and gates) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Nora Creina Road: Dingley Dell (dwelling){{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16457 | title=Dwelling ('Dingley Dell') | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Nora Creina Road: Bellevue Homestead{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16456 | title=Dwelling ('Bellevue Homestead')| publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Obelisk Road: Robe Gaol Ruins{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16402 | title=Former Robe Gaol (Ruin) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Royal Circus: Royal Circus and Slipwall{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16463 | title=Royal Circus and Seawall, including remains of slipway and Chinese Memorial | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 1 Royal Circus: Robe Customs House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16404 | title=Nautical Museum (former Robe Customs House) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Smillie Street: Robe Institute{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16421 | title=Robe Institute | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• Smillie Street: Criterion Hotel{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16420 | title=Dwelling (former Criterion Hotel) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 8 Smillie Street: Robe Courthouse, Police Station, Old Cells and Stables{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16408 | title=Robe Courthouse, Police Station, Old Cells & Stables | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 10 Smillie Street: Ormerod Cottages{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16409 | title=Dwelling ('Ormerod Cottages') (former Old Barracks) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 24 Smillie Street: Bank of South Australia Building{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16418 | title=Bank House (former Bank of South Australia Robe Branch) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 26 Smillie Street: Campbell's Shop{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16419 | title=Shop & Cottages (formerly Campbell's Shop) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 32 Smillie Street: Davison's Shop and Residence{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16423 | title=Dwelling (former Davison's Shop and Residence) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 38 Smillie Street: Graymasts{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16424 | title=Graymasts – Former Woolstore and attached Cottage | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 4-8 Sturt Street: Moorakyne House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16406 | title=Dwelling ('Moorakyne House') (former Green Gables) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 15 Sturt Street: Granny Banks' Cottage{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16415 | title=Dwelling ('Granny Banks' Cottage') (former Crazy Cottage) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 1 Victoria Street: Caledonian Inn{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16425 | title=Caledonian Inn | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 5 Victoria Street: Wilson's Saddlery{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16432 | title=Eating House (former Wilson's Saddlery) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}
• 18 Victoria Street: Attic House{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=16437 | title=Office (former Attic House) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=28 August 2016}}

Robe has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb), with tepid, dry summers and mild, drizzly winters. Average maxima vary from {{convert|22.6|C}} in February to {{convert|13.6|C}} in July and average minima fluctuate between {{convert|13.7|C}} in January and February and {{convert|8.2|C}} in July. The mean average annual precipitation is {{convert|631.6|mm|in|abbr=on}}, spread between 153.4 precipitation days. The town has 56.0 clear days and 163.3 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|39.6|C}} on 14 February 1981 to {{convert|-2.6|C}} on 19 July 1982.{{cite web

|url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=26026 |title = Robe Climate (1860-2024) |website = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = August 17, 2024}}

{{Weather box

|location = Robe, elevation {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals and extremes, 1884–present)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 39.2

|Feb record high C = 39.6

|Mar record high C = 35.8

|Apr record high C = 31.7

|May record high C = 26.5

|Jun record high C = 20.4

|Jul record high C = 21.2

|Aug record high C = 22.8

|Sep record high C = 26.6

|Oct record high C = 33.3

|Nov record high C = 36.3

|Dec record high C = 37.1

|Jan record low C = 5.2

|Feb record low C = 5.1

|Mar record low C = 5.0

|Apr record low C = 2.2

|May record low C = 0.8

|Jun record low C = -0.1

|Jul record low C = -2.6

|Aug record low C = 0.2

|Sep record low C = 0.8

|Oct record low C = 2.1

|Nov record low C = 3.3

|Dec record low C = 3.9

|Jan high C = 22.7

|Feb high C = 22.7

|Mar high C = 21.4

|Apr high C = 19.3

|May high C = 16.7

|Jun high C = 14.5

|Jul high C = 13.9

|Aug high C = 14.7

|Sep high C = 16.3

|Oct high C = 18.4

|Nov high C = 20.0

|Dec high C = 21.4

| year high C = 18.5

|Jan low C = 14.3

|Feb low C = 14.2

|Mar low C = 13.0

|Apr low C = 11.7

|May low C = 10.5

|Jun low C = 9.1

|Jul low C = 8.6

|Aug low C = 8.9

|Sep low C = 9.7

|Oct low C = 10.6

|Nov low C = 11.9

|Dec low C = 13.1

| year low C = 11.3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 18.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 19.4

|Mar precipitation mm = 28.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 39.3

|May precipitation mm = 66.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 92.1

|Jul precipitation mm = 99.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 91.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 63.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 40.1

|Nov precipitation mm = 34.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 28.1

|year precipitation mm = 622.0

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 6.7

| Feb precipitation days = 5.8

| Mar precipitation days = 8.9

| Apr precipitation days = 13.3

| May precipitation days = 17.7

| Jun precipitation days = 19.4

| Jul precipitation days = 21.2

| Aug precipitation days = 20.7

| Sep precipitation days = 17.6

| Oct precipitation days = 13.6

| Nov precipitation days = 10.4

| Dec precipitation days = 9.7

| year precipitation days =165.0

|humidity colour = green

|Jan afthumidity = 63

|Feb afthumidity = 65

|Mar afthumidity = 66

|Apr afthumidity = 68

|May afthumidity = 75

|Jun afthumidity = 77

|Jul afthumidity = 77

|Aug afthumidity = 73

|Sep afthumidity = 70

|Oct afthumidity = 67

|Nov afthumidity = 64

|Dec afthumidity = 64

|Jan dew point C = 13.0

|Feb dew point C = 13.5

|Mar dew point C = 12.7

|Apr dew point C = 11.5

|May dew point C = 10.9

|Jun dew point C = 9.5

|Jul dew point C = 8.8

|Aug dew point C = 8.6

|Sep dew point C = 9.2

|Oct dew point C = 10.0

|Nov dew point C = 11.0

|Dec dew point C = 11.9

|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology (humidity 1991–2010){{cite web

| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_026026_All.shtml

| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations- Robe

| date = 2 March 2025}}

}}

Climate data is also available for Robe Airport, located {{convert|4.6|km}} SE of the town. The inland weather station has a greater diurnal and seasonal range, and experiences slightly less precipitation (but with greater frequency).

{{Weather box

|location = Robe Airfield (37º10'48"S, 139º48'36"E, 3 m AMSL) (2003–2024 normals and extremes)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 42.1

|Feb record high C = 41.7

|Mar record high C = 38.4

|Apr record high C = 33.5

|May record high C = 29.1

|Jun record high C = 24.3

|Jul record high C = 19.8

|Aug record high C = 26.5

|Sep record high C = 28.0

|Oct record high C = 35.0

|Nov record high C = 38.0

|Dec record high C = 43.3

|Jan high C = 24.6

|Feb high C = 24.2

|Mar high C = 23.1

|Apr high C = 20.5

|May high C = 17.4

|Jun high C = 15.2

|Jul high C = 14.5

|Aug high C = 15.3

|Sep high C = 16.8

|Oct high C = 18.8

|Nov high C = 21.2

|Dec high C = 22.9

|Jan low C = 13.0

|Feb low C = 12.8

|Mar low C = 11.4

|Apr low C = 9.6

|May low C = 8.6

|Jun low C = 6.7

|Jul low C = 6.7

|Aug low C = 7.2

|Sep low C = 8.0

|Oct low C = 8.6

|Nov low C = 10.5

|Dec low C = 11.9

|Jan record low C = 4.0

|Feb record low C = 2.7

|Mar record low C = 0.6

|Apr record low C = 0.4

|May record low C = -2.0

|Jun record low C = -3.5

|Jul record low C = -1.4

|Aug record low C = -2.0

|Sep record low C = -1.4

|Oct record low C = -1.0

|Nov record low C = 1.8

|Dec record low C = 1.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 19.8

|Feb precipitation mm = 21.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 23.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 40.3

|May precipitation mm = 66.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 90.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 97.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 88.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 53.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 35.1

|Nov precipitation mm = 32.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 29.0

|year precipitation mm = 599.5

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 5.8

|Feb precipitation days = 5.3

|Mar precipitation days = 8.5

|Apr precipitation days = 13.3

|May precipitation days = 18.3

|Jun precipitation days = 19.7

|Jul precipitation days = 21.8

|Aug precipitation days = 21.3

|Sep precipitation days = 16.8

|Oct precipitation days = 13.2

|Nov precipitation days = 9.8

|Dec precipitation days = 8.8

|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology (2003-2024 normals and extremes){{cite web

|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_026105_All.shtml

|title = Robe Airfield Climate Statistics (2003-2024)

|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology

|access-date = August 17, 2024}}

}}

{{commons category}}

• Little Dip Conservation Park
• Lake Hawdon System Important Bird Area
• Woakwine Conservation Park

{{reflist}}

• Susan Marsden (1985) A glimpse of golden days, District Council of Robe: Robe.

• [http://www.robe.sa.gov.au/ District Council of Robe]
• [http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/robe.htm South Australian History – Robe]

{{Limestone Coast}}

{{District Council of Robe suburbs}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Coastal towns in South Australia

Category:Limestone Coast

Category:Fishing communities in Australia