[1] They emigrated Australia, and settled in Ipswich, Queensland, before moving to Camdenville, New South Wales, where William was employed as a timber merchant, and Joseph was educated.
[3] He graduated BA in 1873, and was offered the pastorate of the Augustine Congregational Church, Hawthorn, Victoria,[4] where he served for three years from 1872 to 1875.
When The Great War broke out many men from Ipswich volunteered, and some did not return, including one of Robertson's sons, killed at Gallipoli.
He was described in 1953 as "A man of sound scholarship, of Old World dignity and a good simple preacher (who) went about his work steadily ... Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were a tower of strength, and themselves knew the fellowship of loss and suffering.
"[8]Joseph Robertson married Catherine Ross Wilson (c. 1854 – 10 April 1939), adopted daughter of S. C. Kemt, Principal of Camden College,[3] on 6 January 1875.