Custom House is one of over 84 historic buildings and sites in Robes seafaring history. The Harbor Master claimed that "a quick offload of goods and turn back to sea" prevented many a disaster in the treacherous seas. It is such a small building for the important role. After a poor agricultural season, a fall in wool prices and the construction of a rail line to Kingston in 1878 Robe was closed as a port and it has become a quiet little country village great for visitors.

The shores of Lake Fellmongery was our stopover whilst staying in Robe (Top Tourist Van Park). This large freshwater lake was given its industrial sounding name in 1853 when a fellmongery was established there to wash wool salvaged from one of the many wrecked ship in Guichen Bay. It is now also a breeding spot for local black ducks.
In 1857 a ship called "Land of Cakes" sailed  into Robe's Bay with 264 Chinese passengers. The numbers swelled to over 17,000 Chinese staying in Robe for a short time to avoid paying the Victorian poll tax, then they paid local guides to walk them 150km to the unguarded border & then another 400km to the Victorian goldfields. That's a long walk!