Council Introduction
The District Council of Robe covers an area of 110,576 hectares of prime grazing and cropping land over aquifer, renowned terra rossa over limestone soil, freshwater lakes and estuaries, coastal dunes, rugged cliffs and family beaches. Robe's weather is mild in summer, with a high rainfall in winter providing lush pastures and plentiful groundwater.
Robe is home to approximately 1460 permanent residents and a retreat to a large number of holiday homeowners. During the summer season, the township of Robe welcomes up to 15,000 additional people as tourists and seasonal workers in the district's wine, fishing and tourism industries.
Robe is renowned for its unique history and its 84 historic buildings and sites. Explored by Captain Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, this busy wool trade port featured numerous shipwrecks of tall ships, and the landing of over 17,000 Chinese who walked to the Victorian Goldfields.
Robe's large Southern Rock Lobster (crayfish) fishing fleet provides bountiful harvest to Robe, Australian, and international restaurants, while its wine districts of Mt Benson and Robe Ranges produce increasingly respected quality wines both for the Australian market and for export. Aquaculture is expanding in the district with farmers of outstanding Barramundi, Murray Cod and Atlantic Salmon supplying local and overseas markets. Robe has long been renowned for its high-grade beef and spring lamb, and also for emerging produce such as olives, berries and herbs to complement Robe's predominance in gourmet markets.
Robe has a thriving tourism industry with over 40 accommodation providers operating motels, caravan parks, holiday units, historic cottages, and high-grade modern apartments. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, cinema, antique and gift shops, galleries and deep-sea fishing and diving charters support this industry.
Residents of Robe enjoy a safe and vibrant lifestyle in a caring community. Facilities available to the Robe community include a community health centre, an Ambulance / CFS centre, library, public internet facilities, sporting facilities including golf course, football oval and netball courts, community bus, 7 day extended hours supermarket, hardware store, and building and mechanical tradespeople.