Until the 1860s settlers avoided the thick rainforest on the districts eastern side between the Wingecarribee Swamp and the Illawarra escarpment, it being considered impossible to clear and farm. Two bridle tracks through the area were used from early days, however, linking the Berrima district and coast to the north near Wollongong and to the south through Kangaroo Valley. In 1830 Robert Hoddle had surveyed and cut another track from Berrima through the rainforest via present-day Burrawang and Robertson and down the escarpment via Jamberoo to Kiama. His track was not immediately developed and became overgrown, although a later road mostly followed his line.

The passage of the 1861 Robertson Land Act provided for free selection before survey of unreserved Crown Land from 40 to 320 acres at one pound/acre with a quarter deposit paid, providing the selector lived on the property and made improvements.

Prospective settlers began to explore upland from the coast into the rainforest. John Hanrahan, a resident of Jamberoo and a Kiama alderman, is generally credited as the first to realise the areas potential to become rich agricultural and pastoral land. He selected blocks for himself and his sons near the Wingecarribee Swamp and encouraged others to take up land. These others, mostly of Irish descent, were from the Illawarra.

Clearing their selections was an almost superhuman task. Trees were cut down in winter and allowed to lie till midsummer and then burnt. Everyone on the farm assisted. By 1865 some 30,000 acres had been taken up. The potato, now synonymous with Robertson, was one of the first crops planted by the Irish settlers.

After being surveyed in 1862, the area was divided into four parishes called by their Aboriginal names. Kangaloon lay on the north side of the Swamp with Yarrawa on the south-east side extending to the Kangaroo River and bounded by Burrawang at Wildes Meadow and by Yarrunga to the west. The whole area was known as the Yarrawa Brush.

In the parish of Yarrawa, a site set aside for a village was first named Yarrawa, then Three Rivers. Selectors petitioned in 1865 that it be named Robertson, in honour of the Secretary for Lands to whom they attributed their good fortune in being able to purchase the fertile land.

Settlement began at Robertson and in private villages at Burrawang, Wildes Meadow and East Kangaloon. As most of the areas business was initially conducted at Burrawang, Robertson developed slowly. It was the areas last village to get a public school, built in 1872, by which time it had numerous houses and a general store, and by 1876 a Methodist and an Anglican Church. In 1887 the village could boast a post office, three hotels, police station and courthouse, five butcher shops, two blacksmiths, stock and station agents, a chemist and a bootmaker.

In the 1870s the eastern area was still remote and lacking in local government bodies, a police force, proper roads or rail connection. In 1878 John Hanrahan and other settlers formed a progress association and decided to hold an annual show at Burrawang. The Burrawang & West Camden Agricultural Societys show in April 1880 was the first in the entire district.

It attracted such interest that in 1881 and 1883 it was held at Moss Vale, but then a District Society was formed to hold shows there. After its sixth year, the Burrawang Societys show was moved to Robertson, the name being changed in 1886 to the Robertson Agricultural Society. This show is still held.

Many of Robertsons early families supported the Show and the areas development, including the Missingham family and descendants.

John and Mary Missingham came to the Robertson area in 1883, purchasing the property Carrington at Pheasant Ground on Jamberoo Road. They planted an orchard, opened a sawmill and raised a family of seven sons and a daughter.

Their story will follow after the next article, which will portray the fascinating life of Johns parents: a convict father and fecund mother.