George Robertson (publisher)

[1] He emigrated to New Zealand as a young man, and, two years later (in 1882), he relocated to Sydney, where he found employment at the local branch of George Robertson and Company, booksellers of Melbourne.

After Angus' death in 1900 Robertson continued in partnership with Frederick Wymark and Richard Thomson who had acquired Angus' share of the business, until in 1907 the partnership was converted into a public company and continues under the name of Angus & Robertson Ltd. As a bookseller Robertson was always interested in buying "books and other rare items relating to Australia and adjacent regions".

Mitchell's formation of his unmatched collection, which he later bequeathed to the state of New South Wales, was "largely indebted to the efforts of booksellers who knew Australiana, including George Robertson, Fred W. Wymark, William Dymock and James R.

[3] Around 1895 the publishing side of the business began to be developed and many successful volumes were launched.

Robertson could recognise quickly a promising author and was willing to take considerable risks in backing his judgment.