The County of Robe is one of South Australia’s 49 cadastral counties. Governor Frederick Robe proclaimed it on 23 July 1846 and it was named for him. The county covers 5,080 square kilometres of the state’s south-east, from the west coast at Robe to the Victorian border in the east. Its principal town is Robe.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | South East |
| Proclaimed | 23 July 1846 |
| Named after | Governor Frederick Robe |
| Area | 5,080 km² |
| Principal towns | Robe, Naracoorte, Lucindale |
| Local government areas today | District Council of Robe; Naracoorte Lucindale Council; Kingston District Council (small part); Wattle Range Council (small part) |
Hundreds in Robe County
The county is divided into 18 hundreds.
- Hundred of Bowaka
- Hundred of Bray
- Hundred of Coles
- Hundred of Comaum
- Hundred of Conmurra
- Hundred of Fox
- Hundred of Jessie
- Hundred of Joanna
- Hundred of Joyce
- Hundred of Killanoola
- Hundred of Mount Benson
- Hundred of Naracoorte
- Hundred of Robertson
- Hundred of Ross
- Hundred of Smith
- Hundred of Spence
- Hundred of Townsend
- Hundred of Waterhouse
Towns and Localities Today
Robe, on the Hundred of Townsend coastline, is the county’s main coastal town and a working fishing port. Naracoorte and Lucindale sit inland in the Hundred of Naracoorte and serve the surrounding farming districts; the northern third of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council area lies outside the county. Coonawarra and Hynam, further north-east, are also within the county’s reach as regional service points for the wine and grazing industries.
Geography
The county runs from the Southern Ocean coast at Robe east to the Victorian border. Its terrain mixes coastal dunes and lagoons with inland limestone plains used for grazing and cropping. Robe County borders the County of Grey to the south-west along the coast.
History
Governor Robe proclaimed the county in 1846 during the early survey of South Australia’s south-east for pastoral and agricultural settlement. Its hundreds were gazetted through the second half of the 19th century as farming spread inland from the port at Robe, which handled wool exports before rail reached the district.
FAQ
Where is Robe County?
It lies in South Australia’s South East region, stretching from the coast at Robe to the Victorian border.
What towns are in Robe County?
Robe, Naracoorte and Lucindale are the main towns; Naracoorte Lucindale Council covers most of the inland area.
Is Robe County still used?
Cadastral counties like Robe remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.