Robert Pohlman

Who was Robert Pohlman?

Robert Williams Pohlman was an English-born Australian lawyer and judge.

Pohlman was born in London, the son of son of John George Pohlman and Annie Hamilton, née Williams, his wife . Little is known of his early life, other than that he studied law after finishing school, was admitted as a barrister in England, and as an advocate in Scotland in 1839.

Pohlman and his younger brother Frederick emigrated to Australia, arriving at Port Phillip in October 1840. The following year the brothers purchased a portion of Darlington Station near Kyneton, north-west of Melbourne, where they ran several thousand sheep.

After the creation of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for the District of Port Phillip, and the appointment of Justice John Willis as Resident Judge, Pohlman was admitted to the local bar, one of the first six barristers admitted in Port Phillip. He maintained a private practice for the next five years. Brewster, Cuninghame and Murray did not remain in Port Phillip for long, however, and most of the legal work in Melbourne during this time was performed by Pohlman and Barry, until they were joined later by William Stawell, Edward Eyre Williams and Sidney Stephen.