[1] In 1888 Robertson obtained leave of absence for the purpose of making another trip to the old country, and upon his term of office expiring in the same year he retired finally from Parliamentary work.
The herd had been commenced by Robertson, sen., at least a quarter of a century before, and he spared neither time nor money to procure some of the best strains of blood then extant.
On one occasion the firm purchased from the estate of the late Richard Morton thirty-seven prime shorthorns, known previously as the Mount Derrimut herd, for £27,000, the sum of £2,500 being paid for one of the bulls: Oxford Cherry Duke.
Robertson's eldest son, William St. Leger, was educated at Oxford, and during his stay there had the same pleasant experience as his father of being one of the winning crew in the annual boat race against Cambridge.
He afterwards settled at Broome, Western Australia, as resident partner with the Messrs. Streeter, of London, in the pearl fishing industry and in squatting pursuits in the Kimberley district.