Home to one of our founders, Robert McCullough, Barcaldine was the small town where the foundations of McCullough Robertson were forged.

McCullough & Robertson, or McCullough Robertson as we are now known, was established by founding partners, Robert McCullough and Jack (Jock) Robertson.

Pictured: Below L-R.

What began as a pastoral practice supporting Queensland’s primary producers, has grown into a leading law firm built on technical excellence and a spirit of innovation. Today, those same foundations propel us forward as we partner with an ever-expanding and diverse client base, always delivering results with the down-to-earth style that defines our future as much as our past.

Pictured: Articles of Partnership, signed 22 January 1926.

McR’s founding partners had a passion for the communities they served. They donated their time and expertise on boards and organisations, setting in motion a tradition of pro bono work and community partnerships that has shaped our firm for the past century. Generosity has always remained core to who we are, and guides how we will continue to make a difference for the next 100 years.

McR has always had a defining presence in Brisbane. In 1927, the firm moved from Preston House on Queen Street to Ascot Chambers at the corner of Edward and Creek Streets. Just seven years later, in 1934, McR found its long-term base at Primac House, 99 Creek Street, where we built our home for the next sixty years!

When Andy Muir joined the partnership in 1945, he began a legacy that would span three generations. The Muir name became woven into the fabric of the firm, shaping its culture and strengthening its future for decades to come.
Today, McR’s structure reflects this history, with internal divisions of McCullough, Robertson, and Muir honouring the lasting impact of that legacy.

"I could not have wished for a better partner. A partnership is a difficult and testing relationship. It involves the utmost good faith, mutual trust and confidence and goodwill, and it also involves a high degree of mutual forbearance. There are very, very few long term continually successful partnerships."

In the 1970s, under the leadership of Partner, John McKnoulty, McR expanded with a dedicated tax and estate planning practice. Built to meet the needs of rural clients, this practice laid the groundwork for the sophisticated and wide-ranging services we provide today.
Discover how the Australian tax landscape has evolved over the last 100 years – and our hopes for future reform.

John McKnoulty also pioneered the firm’s renowned regional outreach program, travelling the State to meet with clients and referrers. This boots-on-the-ground approach continues today, across Australia and beyond.

Pictured: Mackay.

The arrival of ‘a very efficient computer system incorporating management accounting, word processing, precedent recording, time costing and budgeting programs’ in the 1970s marked the start of our innovation journey, embedding a lasting philosophy: always ask is there a better way. This mindset continues to drive how we work, deliver results, and evolve for our clients today.

In 1987, McCullough & Robertson became McCullough Robertson, carrying forward its fierce independence while always staying true to its birthname.

In 1988, McR introduced a full-service corporate and commercial practice to complement its traditional offerings. This expansion was later reflected in our tagline, “Success. In business”, capturing our commitment to delivering results for clients across every sector.

Pictured below: Partner and former Chair, Kerry Prior.

The 80s saw a transformation into the world of corporate law, and since then, our full service corporate and commercial practice has expanded into exciting industries including resources and renewables, technology, media and telecommunications, government, and community housing.

Our independence is central to who we are, and it drives how we work with clients and advisers around the world. For decades, and across international markets, we have replicated the same relationship-driven approach that defines our work in Australia, building long-term partnerships based on trust.
Today, we help international clients invest in Australia and support Australian businesses expanding overseas, delivering practical support across borders.

In 2006, McR formalised its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), and they remain one of our longest-standing community partners. This collaboration reflects our enduring commitment to Queensland’s rural and agricultural communities, which are home to many of our valued clients.

As Queensland’s resources sector surged in the 2000s, McR cemented its expertise in mining and resources. Our team has since expanded to Australia’s full energy mix, now advising clients across mining, renewables, and broader energy sectors, while tackling emerging issues with insight and a forward-looking edge.

McR brought its full-service approach (and the same down-to-earth attitude) to Sydney. Working nationally to support our clients, our Sydney office has further strengthened our expertise across the board, including in key sectors such as financial services, technology, media, and telecommunications, energy and infrastructure, and private clients.

From our environmental sustainability initiatives to pro bono work, scholarships to support First Nations students and innovation, and long-standing community partnerships, we actively create positive impact. Diversity and inclusion are embedded in our culture, while robust governance ensures we operate with integrity and accountability. Through these efforts we continue to deliver meaningful outcomes for our people, clients, and communities, always.

Since formalising our pro bono target in 2009, McR has strengthened its commitment to giving back. After 25 years of dedication, Tim Longwill became Pro Bono Partner in 2024, and in 2025 our work was recognised with the QLS Pro Bono Team of the Year Award, underscoring the lasting impact of our program.

Pictured below: Members of McR’s Pro Bono Team, and winners of the 2025 QLS Pro Bono Team of the Year Award.

In 2024, we proudly reached, and quickly surpassed, 100 people in our Sydney office. With the Sydney office now home to 19 partners and more than 115 team members, we continue to deliver commercial and legal excellence anchored by the down-to-earth culture that defines McR.

While much has changed since 1926 - our reach, services, and scale - McR has stayed true to its name and values, combining technical excellence with a down-to-earth, relationship-driven approach.
With offices in Brisbane and Sydney, and connections across the globe, we partner with clients across the sectors that drive Australia, while remaining committed to the communities in which we live and work, and to our talented teams who shape McR into what it is today. With innovation and fierce independence, we will continue to deliver a lasting impact.