George Robertson

Who was George Robertson?

George Robertson was a Scottish-Australian bookseller and publisher, who founded the publishing division of Angus & Robertson.

Robertson, the son of the Rev. John Robertson, was born at Halstead, Essex, England. He was educated at the Southwestern Academy, Glasgow and trained as a bookseller with James Maclehose, bookseller to the University of Glasgow. He emigrated to New Zealand as a young man, and, two years later, he relocated to Sydney, where he found employment at the local branch of George Robertson and Company, booksellers of Melbourne. He was in no way related to the founder of that firm.

In January 1886 he joined D. M. Angus in partnership, at first in Market Street, Sydney and later, in Castlereagh Street. After Angus' death in 1900 Robertson continued in partnership with Frederick Wymark and Richard Thomson who had acquired Angus' share of the business, until in 1907 the partnership was converted into a public company and continues under the name of Angus & Robertson Ltd.

Around 1895 the publishing side of the business began to be developed and many successful volumes were launched. Among the earlier authors were Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson and Victor Daley. Robertson could recognize quickly a promising author and was willing to take considerable risks in backing his judgment.