John Robinson, resident of Albany, was the original partner of Samuel Copley purchasing Swan Location Z in 1900, comprising 720 acres, for £7525. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1840 and educated privately there. It was in Belfast that he met Margaret Thomson, daughter of the linen merchant John Thomson, and they married in 1863. Some eight years later, John and Margaret decided to come to Australia and landed in the colony of Victoria in 1872 where John worked for the National Bank. After having spent a period of six years in Victoria, John transferred with his wife to Albany in 1878 being appointed the National Bank manager. In 1883, John resigned and bought into the drapers J McKail & Co, the company owned by W. G. Knight and J. F. McKail. J McKail & Co was liquidated in 1887, and in 1888 Robinson purchased this company with partner Charles Drew and took over the business renaming it Drew, Robinson & Co. By 1910 the company also had branches at Broomehill, Norseman and Ravensthorpe with the head office being in the above building in Stirling Terrace. The company bought 2,560 acres land on the western boundary of Albany, and in 1913 subdivided it with the intention of promoting the growth of the town. It still exists today with the suburb being called Robinson.

John and Margaret had two surviving sons, Robert Thomson “RT” Robinson (1867-1926, born in Ireland) and Herbert (1876-1919, born in Victoria). The two sons both became Members of the WA Legislative Assembly, but took different paths in the family businesses with RT being given his father’s share of the land bought by Samuel Copley, and Herbert becoming a partner in his father’s retail business.

RT became a lawyer, and from 1885 was articled to EGS Hare in Albany and then to Septimus Burt in Perth. After being admitted to the WA Bar in 1889, he entered into partnership with SJ Haynes in Albany. In 1897 with JC Foulkes, Hayne and Robinson took over the Perth practice of Sholl & Foulkes which then became Haynes, Robinson and Cox in 1903 with RT being the principal partner. In 1906, RT received his father’s share of the land bought with Samuel Copley, and RT and Copley went on to develop it into the suburb of Mount Lawley. In 1914, RT was appointed King’s Counsel, and from 1914-1921 held the Legislative Assembly seat of Canning.

Herbert Robinson arrived in Albany, Western Australia in 1878 with his parents. After leaving school, he joined his father’s business, the department store Drew, Robinson & Co. He married Margurite (Meta) Sarah Christy, daughter of William Stanley on 9 July 1907 in South Dublin, Ireland. Herbert then became a partner in his father’s business. Having a sense of civil duty, he was the Mayor of Albany (November 1912–November 1915) before becoming the Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Albany (29 September 1917–2 May 1919) until his untimely death at the age of 42yrs.