Staff member Andrea Douglas spent time with Robert for a tour of colour and the arts in Auckland. 

As Foundation student Robert Cox (School/Sargood 1959–1963) celebrates his 80th birthday, his life reflects one of creativity and individuality. Walking through central Auckland, his home for the past two years, it’s clear that Robert’s passions for art and design, are as lively as ever. 

During a tour of his favourite places, Robert took me to the Auckland Art Gallery, where The Robertson Gift, an exhibition showcasing a couple’s gifted art collection, is on display. As we strolled through the gallery, Robert’s enthusiasm was infectious. Recognising masterpieces before reading the plaques, he exclaims, “Oh, a Goldie! Ooh, Picasso! Oh, a Monet!” When asked about his favourite art, Robert smiled and replied, “I love colour and geometric shapes. I admire Picasso, while Salvador Dalí always has a surprise in store for you.”

Robert’s childhood was spent on his family’s cattle and sheep farm in Leithfield, where his father, Kenneth Cox, made significant contributions to agriculture by addressing cobalt that was in the grass from pumice soil (from volcanic ash around Lake Taupō)—earning an MBE for his efforts and work with the Matamata Farming Community. Kenneth was also instrumental in financially supporting the establishment of St Paul’s Collegiate School, where both Robert and his brother, Peter (Sargood 1960-1962), were among the early boarding students.

Reflecting on his time at St Paul’s, Robert offers advice to current students: “Be who you are and do what you want to do. Don’t listen to others’ rules and expectations.” This philosophy has guided Robert throughout his multifaceted career.

After his time at St Paul’s, Robert completed his teacher training at Ardmore Teachers College in Auckland and then taught primary school students. His career took a creative turn when he negotiated a role teaching art at King’s College in Auckland, igniting a lifelong love for colour. “My favourite thing about colour is its brightness,” he says, adding with a grin, “and teal—it’s a colour that goes with just about everything.”

The pull of design took Robert to London, where he trained as an interior designer at the Chelsea School of Art transitioning to interior design. Returning to Auckland, he brought homes to life with bold, vibrant hues. One of his most memorable projects, completed just before retirement, was a house for a couple in Auckland. Robert giggles and says, “I really went to town with all the colours of the fabrics and the walls, they loved it, the idea is to stretch people but not too far.” It was a perfect match for Robert’s daring style.

Even now, Robert’s passion for design remains undimmed. He often spends time at the Auckland Library, flipping through interior design magazines; he proudly displays his own artistic treasures in his home, including his first-ever art purchase, a John Nickle painting.

During our visit to the Auckland Art Gallery, we met Bill, Robert’s friend of 56 years. Over coffee, Bill recounts stories of Robert’s “Hobbit House,” a boomerang-shaped home built into the bush-clad hillside in Oneroa, Waiheke Island, which Robert designed and decorated with his partner, Clive. With a passion for the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, the home featured sweeping black and white steps, polished marble and bottle-shaped columns that showcased Robert’s flair for blending originality with elegance.

Robert’s generosity has extended to both St Paul’s and the Auckland Art Gallery. In 2024, he gifted a Max Gimblett artwork to St Paul’s and has also contributed artworks to the Auckland Art Gallery, further enriching the city’s artistic landscape.

As Robert celebrated his milestone birthday, his advice to live authentically and his legacy of colour and creativity will never fade.