Robinson lectured in English and German at the University of Queensland from 1923 until World War II when his language expertise made him ideal for military intelligence and for work as a censor. Returning to academia, he eventually retired as head of department in 1958, and in 1968 was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Queensland. He founded the Fryer Memorial Library of Australian Literature, which began in a glass bookcase in his university office. Robinson was also the chairman of the John Oxley Memorial Committee, and so he is best remembered for his role in the establishment of the Fryer Memorial Library at the University of Queensland and the John Oxley Library at the State Library of Queensland.
Robinson was an public figure with many years of research demonstrating the universal quality of his thinking and activities. There is a large collection of his letters and manuscripts in the Fryer Library which reflects this. He was active in the Queensland Authors and Artists Association, Fellowship of Australian Writers (q.v.)
