Robin Rhodes Millhouse was born on 9 December 1929 in North Adelaide [1] to Justice Vivian Rhodes Millhouse and Grace Lily (née Ayliffe).[2]
Robin graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws in 1951[3] and was admitted to legal practice in 1953.[4]
In 1955 Robin entered Parliament as the State member for Mitcham.[5] In 1973 he formed the New Liberal Movement and then merged that party with other parties to form the Australian Democrats, becoming the first Member of Parliament for the Australian Democrats.[6]
Robin was the Attorney-General in the Steele Hall Liberal government from 1968 to 1970, and made Queen’s Counsel in 1979.[7] In April 1982, he was appointed to the Supreme Court [8], a position he held until 1999 [9]. He was also appointed Chief Justice of Kiribati and Chief Justice of Nauru, as well as serving as a locum judge in Tuvalu.[10]
3. Registrar’s Department. (1951) ‘Millhouse, Robin Rhodes’ [Student card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1117.
4. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
5. Emerson, J 2020, A history of the independent bar of South Australia, updated ed., University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, South Australia, p. 14.
6. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
7. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
8. Emerson, J 2006, First among equals: Chief Justices of South Australia since federation, University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, South Australia, p. 253.
9. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
10. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
11. Bulletin 2017, ‘Robin Millhouse: A true maverick’, Bulletin, 1 October, vol. 39, no. 9, p. 31.
Personal Details
Date of Birth9 December 1929Date of Death28 April 2017NationalityAUS
