found a fresh water river, we would have found it a good country for the maintenance of flocks and herds. From the numerous native population it is obvious that there is no scarcity of fresh water, although we could not find it." In May 1839, Robert explored the Port Vincent area in conjunction with James Hughes. In June 1839, Robert led a party on the schooner Victoria, captained by Captain Hutchinson. They explored Spencer Gulf, following the western shores of the Yorke Peninsula and the coast of the Eyre Peninsula as far as Port Lincoln. "Water can be had at from ten to twenty feet from the surface. In all probability the peninsula will in time be a great agricultural district." Robert also demonstrated concern for the welfare of the aboriginal population: ... Robert Cock was deeply disturbed to find that local authorities still had no intention of honouring a commitment made while still in Britain to set aside one fifth of all land to provide a fund for aboriginal welfare. Having bought land in Adelaide he felt morally obliged to pay interest on one-fifth of the purchase price. 'I felt it my duty', he informed the local Protector of Aborigines in 1838, 'to pay to the proper authorities for the use of the natives this yearly rent'. He denied that the money was a donation but 'a just claim that the natives of this district have on me as an occupier of those lands'. On another occasion he intervened in a dispute between the aborigines and the settlers to prevent violence, reminding the settlers that the law was for protection of all. After several years as a land agent, Robert took up farming, first at Balhannah in the Adelaide hills and by 1853 in Mount Gambier, where he was one of the original residents. Later on, he opened up a brewery in Mount Gambier. Robert died in Mount Gambier in 1871, where he is buried in the Pioneers cemetery. A son, James Cock (1833–1901) was MHA for Victoria from 1890 to 1899. Family Robert Cock married Elizabeth 'Betty' Wishart (1805–1830) on 15 Jan 1823 in Kilmany, Fife, Scotland. He married again, to Catherine Christie (23 March 1807 – 18 Apr 1870) on 28 May 1832 in Abdie, Fife, Scotland; Robert and Catherine emigrated to South Australia in 1836 aboard with the children of both wives: Betty Cock (27 March