ROBINSON, WILLIAM (1814-89) was born at Bold Hall, Warrington, Lancashire. In 1839 he emigrated to South Australia, where he purchased the River Hill estate and made considerable money dealing in stock between South Australia and the other colonies. In 1856 he sold out and came to New Zealand. Settling in Nelson, he purchased from the provincial government the Cheviot Hills estate, between the Hurunui and Waiau rivers, and earned the soubriquet of 'Ready-money Robinson' by paying for it in cash. Robinson increased the property to 84,000 acres and established on it one of the finest homesteads in New Zealand. He stocked the run with sheep from good flocks, and in 1888 the clip amounted to 2,079 bales. In Grey's 'Domesday Book' (1885) he appears as the second largest landowner in New Zealand, his property being valued at £291,812. At Port Robinson he provided shipping facilities to enable him and his neighbours to load their wool.

In his early days in Nelson Robinson made many interesting journeys between Nelson and Canterbury. He took little part in public affairs, but was M.P.C. for Amuri 1857-59. He had a distinguished career on the turf in three countries. In 1862 he imported the horse Golden Grape and later Ravenswood and the mares Skybird and Coronaria; but did not race. Going to England in 1864, he backed his mare Gratitude to win the Cezarewitch Stakes, but she was beaten. Next year his horse Eltham ran third in the Derby and Gratitude won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. On his return to New Zealand Robinson bought Strop from Henry Redwood and presented it to his brother-in-law (Wood) for whom it ran with remarkable success in Australia. The first horse he trained in New Zealand was Skylark (1868). He purchased Papapa from Redwood, but for family reasons refrained from racing until 1878, when he purchased Natator the day before he won the Canterbury Derby. After the death of J. W. Mallock he joined H. P. Lance, and they raced with great success, amongst their best horses being Foul Play, Grip and Vanguard. The resumption of the Cheviot estate in 1893 initiated the Liberal government's policy of subdivision of large estates. Robinson was a member of the Legislative Council from 1869 till his death (on 9 Sep 1889).

N.Z.P.D., 10 Sep 1889; Acland; Reeves; Cant. O.N.; Roberts, Southland; Col. Gent.; The Press, 10 Sep 1889; Lyttelton Times, 10 Sep, 2 Oct 1889.

Reference: Volume 2, page 127

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