Avaluable lithograph showing scenes of colonial-era Robe is now owned by its district council.

The council purchased an important piece of history from Penola grazier Rick Paltridge.

Writing in the monthly newsletter, council chief executive James Holyman said the purchase was an original Alexander Tolmer lithograph titled Robe Town: Embarkation of His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, June 12, 1869. 

“It is our understanding there are only four copies of the original lithograph with the other three being located in the State Library of South Australia – Adelaide, State Library of New South Wales – Sydney and National Library of Australia – Canberra,” Mr Holyman said.

“Council decided that as it is our history, it was important to ensure one of the copies is owned by the Robe community.

“The lithograph has been in Rick Partridge’s family for generations.”

In officially handing over the lithograph to Robe’s Mayor Alison Nunan at the elected member forum in August, Mr Paltridge acknowledged that “(the lithograph) belongs to Robe … it is most important for it to come back to Robe and it was pleasing to hear that you (Robe District Council) were prepared to put this in the budget”. 

“The lithograph was restored by Roberto Padoan, Principal Conservator of Paper and Books from ArtLab Australia in Adelaide,” Mr Paltridge said.

“This included mounting the lithograph so it can be safely displayed publicly.

 “The lithograph is made up of five unnumbered colour (tinted) plates that each measure 20.5 by 31.5 cm.

 “The lithograph is a panoramic view of Robe Town, South Australia and was privately-printed and of highly limited distribution.”

Depicted on the panoramas are the Governor’s vessel moored off Robe, Robe jetty, Caledonian Hotel, possibly the Robe Hotel, Methodist Church, Criterion Hotel (2 storey with balcony), Post Office and Karatta House, District Council offices, Police Station House, Court House, St Peter’s Anglican Church, Sunday School, Government Resident’s house and the Anglican Rectory.

By way of background, Alexander Tolmer was born in England in 1815, emigrated to South Australia in 1840 and was briefly Commissioner of Police.

In 1856 he left the force but was not successful in trade nor on the land. 

In 1859 he led one of the early unsuccessful expeditions which attempted to cross Australia from south to north. 

Alexander Tolmer lived in Robe for almost 10 years.