Herbert Robinson (29 December 1876 – 2 May 1919) was an Australian politician who was a

Nationalist Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Th ...

member of the Legislative Assembly of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

from 1917 until his death, representing the seat of Albany. Robinson was born in

Red Hill, Victoria Red Hill is a small town and rural community on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, approximately south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula local government ...

, to Irish parents, Margaret (née Thomson) and John Robinson. His family moved to

Albany, Western Australia Albany ( ; nys, Kinjarling) is a port city in the Great Southern region in the Australian state of Western Australia, southeast of Perth, the state capital. The city centre is at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, which is a ...

, in June 1878, where he spent his early childhood. He and his older brother, Robert Thomson Robinson (also a future MP), were both sent to

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

to be educated, attending

Prince Alfred College , motto_translation = Do Brave Deeds and Endure , established = 1869 , type = Independent, single-sex, day & boarding , headmaster = David Roberts , chaplain = Reverend ...

. After leaving school, Robinson returned to Albany to work for Drew Robinson & Co., his father's department store. He eventually became a junior partner in the store. In November 1912, Robinson was elected Mayor of Albany, serving until November 1915. Joining the newly created Nationalist Party, he successfully stood for parliament at the 1917 state election, defeating a former premier,

John Scaddan John Scaddan, CMG (4 August 1876 – 21 November 1934), popularly known as "Happy Jack", was Premier of Western Australia from 7 October 1911 until 27 July 1916. Early life John Scaddan was born in Moonta, South Australia, into a Cornish A ...

. He joined his brother, the member for Canning, as a member of parliament. Robinson died in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

in May 1919, aged only 42. He had moved there to aid his recovery from an ongoing illness, with his death having been preceded several months of declining health."Death of Mr Herbert Robinson, M.L.A."
– ''The Southern Districts Advocate'' (

Katanning, Western Australia Katanning is a town located south-east of Perth, Western Australia on the Great Southern Highway. At the 2016 census, Katanning had a population of 3,687. History The name ''Katanning'' is derived from the native name for a camping place. T ...

), 5 May 1919.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Herbert 1876 births 1919 deaths Australian Methodists Australian people of Irish descent Mayors of Albany, Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly People from Albany, Western Australia People educated at Prince Alfred College Nationalist Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia