Claire Robinson Park

Claire Robinson (1894-1982) was born in Tasmania to Richard and Margarett Williams. She married her brother-in-law, Arthur George Robinson in 1923. Arthur had been widowed and left to raise four very young children with the death of Claire’s sister Margery in 1917.

Claire was an enthusiastic supporter of local charities and organisations. She belonged to the Narre Warren North Red Cross Society for over thirty years and also belonged to the Berwick Hospital Auxiliary, CWA and the Narre Warren North Methodist Church Guild. Together with her husband Arthur, they supported the Doveton community in its early developmental years. Robinson Reserve at Doveton was named in Arthur’s honour.

St. John’s Church of England, was a wooden structure and built in 1876 on the site. It was destroyed by fire on Saturday 3 December 1927 after falling into disuse. The fire was thought to have been started when a swagman lit a campfire in the church grounds. Arthur ‘bought’ the block of land from the Church by exchanging it for another in the area then donated it to the Shire of Berwick in 1971 for use as a park.

Claire and Arthur both died in 1982 are buried in Berwick Cemetery.

References:
The Argus [Church destroyed by fire] 6 Dec 1927 page 23
Place names of Berwick – City of Casey Historical Pamphlet 3

Also at Claire Robinson Park is the Robert Francis ‘Bob’ Hill Christmas Tree

Robert Francis ‘Bob’ Hill plaque transcription

This Christmas Tree, built and donated by / Robert Francis ‘Bob’ Hill / is a permanent reminder of / his contribution to the / Narre Warren North Uniting Church & Community Carols / est. 1991