b'The foundations ofArthur Robinson & CoArthur Robinson (later Sir Arthur) had an uncertain start toSir Arthurs firm was initially located at Capel Court, 375 his legal career in Melbourne. After first working for GillottCollins Street, Melbourne, before moving in 1912 to the Croker & Snowden, in 1890 he moved to McCutcheon &impressive new Collins House building at 360 Collins Street. Bruce and was articled to William Bruce. The arrangementAmong the tenants were Sir Arthurs younger brother came to an abrupt end when Bruce left for England to playWilliam Sydney Robinson, William Lawrence Baillieu and cricket. He was the first left-handed batsman to representColin Fraser three of the most entrepreneurial people Australia. Responsibility for Sir Arthurs articles was thenof their time, and each of whom was instrumental in the handed to Walter McCutcheon.development of the Australian mining industry.Along with his love of cricket, Bruce enjoyed land speculation.Collins House was the place from which mining companies Like many at the time, he over-invested during the landwere managed and where important deals were brokered. boom of the 1880s and, in the crash that followed, becameThe Collins House group, as it was known, was a prominent insolvent. When Bruce established a new legal practice ongroup of companies and the financiers and entrepreneurs his own in 1894, Sir Arthur took a risk and went with him. who ran them. It had a profound impact on the countrys commercial landscape. Sir Arthurs involvement with these Sir Arthur was admitted as a solicitor on 4 February 1896,pioneering businesses bolstered the development of the and the following year the firm became known as Bruceyoung law firm in its formative years.& Robinson. The two worked together until 1907, when SirArthur left to establish his own practice. From the outset, Arthur Robinson & Co was a commercial law firm, supporting a range of industries including mining, Sir Arthur came from one of Melbournes most prominentfinance, manufacturing and entertainment. The firm also and well-r espected families, and his influential brothersundertook conveyancing work for the families of commercial sent a continuous stream of work his way. In 1914 he wasclients, most notably the enterprising Baillieu family.joined by twenty-seven-year-old George Forrest Davies, andthe firm became known as Arthur Robinson & Co. Working with them was a fifteen-year-old office boy, John Spicer,who would later be knighted for his role as the first chief judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court.84'