Songwriter and singer Harry Robertson was one of Australia's pioneer folk performers and folk music activists. He was a Scot by birth, and Australian by choice. In 1941 he joined the Navy and worked on tugs on the north-east coast of Scotland. During this period, Robertson began to write songs based on his experience as a seaman. One of his compositions Deep Sea Tug was later included in the Oxford Book of Sea Songs.

In 1947 Robertson was released from the Navy and he pursued a career working on oil tankers as a merchant seaman. He travelled widely and fell in love with Brisbane, Australia. In 1950, Robertson joined a Norwegian whaling fleet and worked in the Antarctic for nearly two years. He and his wife Rita Murray emigrated to Newborough, Victoria, in 1952, and Harry found work with various whaling companies in Moreton Bay, Norfolk Island and Byron Bay. After many years at sea, Robertson settled in Brisbane and became a successful songwriter and performer. He also became heavily involved in the folk movement in Brisbane and was a key contributor in the establishment and success of the 1967, 1968 and 1969 National Folk Festivals.

In 1969 Robertson and his family moved to Sydney with the intention of concentrating on his music career. Two years later he released Whale Chasing Men, an album featuring songs written by Robertson about his experiences on the sea. The album was very successful and the song Norfolk Whalers and won an "Eddie" in the National Radio Awards for Best Australian Composition in 1972. Later he collaborated with film director and producer Ken Dyer, and composed music and wrote scripts for the ABC's A Big Country series, which also won numerous awards. Whale Chasing Men was re-issued by ScreenSound Australia in 2001.

Among other songs he wrote the wonderful "Wee Pot Stove", made famous by Nic jones and Danny Spooner among others. He was a fantasic songwriter and his cd can be purchased here

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