Robert Anderson

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Ipswich City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera, and Ugarapul People of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, as the keepers of the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.

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Robert Anderson was a very talented athlete who also grew up at the Deebing Creek Mission. He competed in the Commonwealth Celebration in 1901, winning a race of 118.5 yards (108.4 metres) in only 11.6 seconds. In 1904, he beat world record holder Arthur Postle, “the Crimson Flash”, at the Charters Towers100, and claimed the prize of £100 which was a huge amount of money at the time. Despite the disapproval of the Protector of Aborigines regarding professionalism in sport for Aborigines, Robert Anderson continued to compete around the country. Robert Anderson’s tribal name was Goupong and a park near Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre is named in his honour.