ROBERTSON, JAMES WILLIAM (1826-76) was born in New Brunswick, went to California as a young man, thence to Australia. He worked on the Turon field and at Ballarat but eventually, with a partner, engaged in sawmilling in the Bullarook forest. In 1861 he came to Gabriel's Gully, followed the rushes to Fox's diggings at Wakatipu and the Arrow, and eventually settled in Queenstown when the Shotover field was proclaimed. He and his partners soon turned their attention once more to timber, selected a site for their mill near Mount Bonpland and brought the machinery from Melbourne. Robertson engaged in building in Queenstown. About 1868, in company with B. Hallenstein (q.v.), he erected the New Brunswick flourmill at Frankton. They built the steamer Antrim, took up land for a small farm on Frankton Flat, erected two wharves (at Kinloch and Mount Bonpland) with a railway 2½ miles long to the mill, and jetties at Frankton, Queenstown and Kingston. The small farmers were paid for ploughing in the first instance, and were assisted to gain their freeholds and the mill was erected when not more than 50 acres was under crop.

Robertson was a man of fine public spirit and a good organiser. He was the first mayor of Queenstown. During the three years that he occupied that position (with Henry Manders as town clerk), he inaugurated civic government and laid out the town efficiently. In 1871 he was elected to the Provincial Council for the Lakes, which he represented till 1872. Robertson died on 23 Jan 1876.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Don; Otago Daily Times, 16 Feb 1876.

Reference: Volume 2, page 126

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