What is today a popular holiday destination and the centre of a most successful and lucrative crayfish industry,
Robe, on the east coast of
South Australia, was during the Victorian gold rush in the mid 1800’s a very busy port. Around 16,000 Chinese disembarked here after having spent months at sea and before travelling overland to the Victorian goldfields. Robe also had a thriving export trade before a railway line was brought in; this has left a legacy of well-preserved
historic buildings from quaint and humble stone cottages to impressive mansions like the
Caledonian Inn. Today, Robe is one of the most significant historic towns in South Australia and it is a gateway to the magnificent coastal drive along the
Great Ocean Road.