Interview with Hugh Robson, Queens Counsel / interviewer, John Farquharson.

2000

59126

Robson, Hugh, -- 1914-2001.

Lawyers -- Australia.

Robson talks about his family background; early interest in music; Intermediate year at North Sydney Boys' High; interest in debating and his involvement in the Sydney University Debating Club. He then talks about beginning law practice and doing articles with Walker and Gibbs and being admitted to the Bar in 1941. Robson then discusses his legal experiences including his involvement in particular cases; Chalfont Chambers and his time on the NSW Bar Council from 1948-58 and his membership of the Australian section of Round Table (a British Commonwealth studies group). He then talks about his association with Newcastle; appointment to the Bench in 1970 and aspects of the work of the NSW Parole Board of which he was chair from 1979-83. Robson then discusses his time as Acting Supreme Court judge in Papua New Guinea; appointment as QC in 1968 and his bid for Liberal party preselection for Federal seat of Warringah. He then gives his views on Norman Cowper; the Mackerras family; Sir John Peder; Miss Margaret Dalrymple-Hay, law faculty secretary of Sydney University; Sir Owen Dixon; Arthur Kerrigan and Sir Victor Windeyer. Robson then talks about John Howard and his family and comments on his performance as Prime Minister. He then concludes by talking about his illustrated musical lectures and the controversial circumstances surrounding his divorce from his first wife.

Compact disc.

Access open for research, personal copies and public use.

Recorded on Nov. 21-22, 2000 in Sydney.

Oral History Collection.

5 sound discs (ca. 230 min.) : digital + summary (4 p.)