The E. Graeme Robertson collection, held by the RACP on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), is located in the College's distinguished Council Room. Graeme Robertson was one of the pioneers of neurology in Australia, a man who attained international recognition for his own research while encouraging the development of the specialty as a whole. How did the collection come to be here? After his death in 1975, Robertson's collection was received by another distinguished neurologist and Fellow of the RACP, Professor Mervyn Eadie. When Professor Eadie retired from clinical practice, the full collection found a home here at the College.

After being integral to its formation, Robertson was the second President of the Australian Association of Neurologists from 1957 to 1965. At the time of its formation however, there were only four practising physicians who were full time neurologists. The aim of the Association was to maintain high standards, with the intent to follow the best overseas practices — most of its members having trained in London. Robertson himself trained at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square from 1930-34, returning to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he would serve for the rest of his working life. The Association (now ANZAN) will celebrate 75 years in 2025.

While practising at Queen Square with many of the eminent neurologists of the day, Robertson filmed this short (6:32 min) footage of his colleagues and their families, in both professional and leisure settings. Amongst those shown are Julian Taylor, Swithin Meadows, Joseph Godwin Greenfield, Edward Arnold Carmichael, J. N. Cuming, Derek Denny-Brown, Joe Pennybacker, Denis Brinton, Gordon Holmes, Samuel Kinnier Wilson, F.M.R. Walshe, John Adie, George Riddoch, Charlie Symond and McDonald Critchley, all leading neurologists of the time. This silent time capsule captures the essence of the era, with smoking still widely enjoyed amongst the medical elite.

A recent biography, E. Graeme Robertson : physician, photographer, preserver, written by his son Denis Robertson, has been added to the collection, capturing the essence of E.G.R's life both within and beyond medicine - including his interests in photography, antiques, early colonial furniture, and cast iron ornamentation, subjects on which he published several books. It can be borrowed from the History of Medicine Library on request.