Ralph Robey

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Ralph Mayer Robey (8 January 1809 – 1 April 1864) was an English-born Australian businessman and politician. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Robey and moved to New South Wales in 1841. In Sydney he ran a store and ironmongery from 1843 and gradually expanded his business. He also became involved in sugar growing and was one of the original shareholders of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR).

Robey set up a sugar refinery in opposition to CSR at Oyster Cove (Waverton), which failed when credit was curtailed under controversial circumstances. Financially embarrassed, he had to sell the enterprise to CSR at a loss, leading to dispute and litigation.

He served on the Sydney City Council from 1846 to 1847 and was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1858 to 1861 and again from 1861 until his death in 1864. He died at Longton in Staffordshire.

Robey married twice. His first wife was Mary Ann Leese Robey, with whom he had five children. He later married Louisa Townsend on 21 October 1842, and they had several more children. Louisa Townsend Robey died by suicide on 20 September 1889.