Robertson-Cuninghame, Robert Clarence (1924 - 2010)

Robert Robertson-Cuninghame, AO (1924–2010), was a distinguished agricultural scientist and the fourth Chancellor of the University of New England (1981 - 1993). 

A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Robertson-Cuninghame combined his academic rigour with a lifelong commitment to the land, managing the family property, Gartmore, while serving on the UNE Council for over two decades. He was a staunch advocate for the traditional ideals of university education, famously stating that the purpose of a university is to "impart the ability to think". His chancellorship was defined by his leadership during the complex amalgamation of UNE with the Armidale and Northern Rivers Colleges of Advanced Education in 1988-89.

Robertson-Cuninghame was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 and received the Centenary Medal in 2001. His legacy at UNE is preserved through the Robertson-Cuninghame Honours Scholarship and an honorary doctorate awarded by the university.