If you take a stroll down Flinders Street, Kent Town, you will soon see a grand property at Number 19, called St Jacques.
St Jacques is now the property of Prince Alfred College and is used as the Headmaster’s Residence. Apart from the name, the property also has another curious feature in that the ornate side gates have the initials JR in their centre.
An earlier Historical Note, From the Register 1926 – Kent Town Residents Association, suggests that four acres of Section 255 (now Kent Town) were purchased by Charles Robin and this later became the property of James Robin. The Robin family settled in South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s but were originally from the Channel Island of Guernsey. A brief biography of James Robin appears in the obituary below.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931) Wed 25 Jul 1894 Page 6
DEATH OF MR. JAMES ROBIN.
Mr. James Robin, of St. Jacques, Kent Town, and of the firm of James Robin & Co., Grenfell-street, died at his residence on Monday. Mr. Robin, who was born in Guernsey on November 14, 1817, arrived in Adelaide early in 1851. He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and on leaving school proceeded to Brazil in 1835. He remained in Brazil for six years, after which he returned to Guernsey in 1841 and established himself in business. Having received a good education in commercial pursuits, Mr. Robin decided to leave his native country and come to Australia in the hope of making a fortune. Accordingly, in November 1851, he secured a passage on board one of the vessels trading between Australia and the old country, and landed in Adelaide early in the following year. Soon after his arrival he entered into partnership with Mr. Le Bair and under the style of Le Bair and Robin the firm carried on business as merchants. The knowledge Mr. Robin gained of Brazilian affairs during his residence in that country led to his appointment in 1866 as vice-consul in Adelaide. Subsequently he was appointed a justice of the peace for the province. Mr. Robin, who was married in 1844, leaves five sons and three daughters, the Rev. J. de Q. Robin, M.A., who is now in charge of the Wesleyan circuit at Armadale, Victoria; Messrs. R. B. and H. N. Robin, who are members of the firm of James Robin & Co.; Mr. A. B. Robin, a fruit grower of Nuriootpa and secretary of the Angaston branch of the Agricultural Bureau; and Mr. V. J. R. Robin M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. The eldest daughter married Mr. S. Fiddian, M.A., the first headmaster of Prince Alfred College. The other two daughters are unmarried.
St Jacques remained in the family at least until the death of his widow.
The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929) Sat 3 Aug 1907 Page 6
Family Notices
ROBIN. – On the 1st August, at St. Jacques, Kent Town, the widow of the late James Robin, aged 88 years.
Other Family Notices refer to the death of Charles Robin (who returned to Guernsey) and to his father (who was also the father of James) and these suggest that the Kent Town St Jacques takes its name from the father’s residence in Guernsey.
The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 – 1889) Fri 28 Mar 1873 Page 7 Family Notices
ROBIN.—On the 27th November last, at Les Rohais, Guernsey, Charles Robin, formerly of Adelaide, in his 47th year.
ROBIN.—On the 5th January, at his residence, St. Jacques Guernsey, Nicholas Robin, aged 84, father of the above Charles, and of James and Theophilus Robin, of this city.
Multiple notices appear in the Adelaide newspapers advertising the sale of St Jacques
The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929) Mon 18 Nov 1912 Page 6 Advertising
That fine property ‘known as St. Jacques, at the corner of Flinders and Pirie streets, Kent Town, which was for years the residence of a well-known colonist, (the late Mr. James Robin), is to be sold at auction, at the Town Hall, on Wednesday next, at 2.30. St. Jacques is a charming residence of 12 rooms, with a fine block of ,land. and is suitable for private family or any institution. For full particulars see auction column.
The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929) Thu 15 Oct 1908 Page 12 Advertising
THE TOWN HALL, : ADELAIDE.
On TUESDAY, October 27, 1908, at 2.30 o’clock.
BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES OF ESTATE of the LATE JAMES ROBIN
VALUABLE BLOCK IN GRENPELL STREET, WITH STORES THEREON.
RESIDENCE. AT KENT TOWN, KNOWN AS ST. JACQUES.
GREEN & CO. are instructed to offer by auction as above—
Portion of T.A. 145, having a frontage of 72 FEET TO GRENFEI.L STREET, by 156 ft. along CHESSER STREET, with Warehouse known as Messrs. J., Robin and Co., and premise occupied by Pfaff, Pinschoff, & Co., and Slater & Son. FRENCH STREET abuts on the southern boundary.
The State Library of South Australia holds the following photo of the Grenfell/ Chesser Street property :
