Robin Rhodes Millhouse

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] 

Robin Millhouse passed away 28 April 2017.[11] 

Footnotes:

1. Chronicle 1929, ‘Births, Marriages, and Deaths’, Chronicle, 12 December, p. 55, viewed 6 December 2022,  <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87466013>.

2. News 1927,  ‘Wedding Millhouse-Ayliffe’, News, 11 June, p. 4, viewed 6 December 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129235203>.

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.