(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

It appears that Robert Curtis had studied homœopathy for several years prior to officially advertising his services as a practitioner in 1878. It also seems that his teachers included Australia's first home-grown homœopath, Dr William Sherwin, and the person who established the Auckland Homœopathic Hospital prior to moving to Australia, Dr Carl F. Fischer.

In March 1878, Robert Curtis placed the following advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald:

HOMŒOPATHY - Mr R. Curtis begs to say that he has made arrangements to meet patients at his house, 7 Belgrave-terrace, Darlinghurst, from 3 to 5 and from 7 to 9 daily. For the information and satisfaction of persons who have not honoured him with a visit, Mr Curtis subjoins a copy of a letter handed him, unsolicited, from Dr C. F. Fischer, of Macquarie-street, just prior to his departure for Europe.

"Dear Mr Curtis, - I am very much pleased that at last you will make your extensive knowledge of Homœopathy and its MATERIA MEDICA and practice useful, and will give the public the advantage of it. For many years I have advised you to do so, and so also did our late friend, Dr Sherwin. We were both highly impressed with your ability. I wish you every success, which I am sure cannot fail, if not in monetary gain, at all events in the good you will do in relieving suffering humanity.

Ever yours,

C.F. FISCHER

251, Macquarie-street, Sydney. June 29, 1877"

In 1886 Mr Curtis was recorded as being a ‘homœopathist’ at 4 Lancaster Villas, Ocean Street, Woollahra. In the NSW Post Office Directories from 1900 to 1903 he was recorded as being a homœopathist at Victoria Arcade, 1^st floor of the Victoria Chambers, Sydney. He was also recorded as being on the Committee of Management of the Sydney Homœopathic Hospital in 1906.

© Barbara Armstrong