Sir John Robertson statue

Public Art: Sir John Robertson statue

Sculptor: © Tommaso Sani

Description: The sandstone carving of Sir John Robertson (1816-1891), Australian politician, is one of 23 sandstone carved figures on the ledges of the Lands Department Building. Dressed in frock coat, the sandstone statue Robertson includes his spectacles slung around his neck and a paper marked ‘Free selection before survey.’ and ‘Land Act 1861’ on his left side.

Date unveiled:

Location: The Sir John Robertson statue can be found in a niche on the Bent Street Facade of the Department of Lands Building, Bridge Street, Sydney, Australia.

So who was Sir John Robertson? : Sir John Robertson (15th October 1816 – 8th May 1891) was an Australian politician and Premier of New South Wales five times. He will be best remembered for the Robertson Land Acts of 1861, which basically ousted squatters off unsurveyed land and allowed men with little money to take up the land for agriculture.