Sheeks-Robertson House
Why it's listed
This two-and-one-half-story Victorian house at 610 West Lynn in Austin was built in 1876 by Judge David Sheeks near the west end of the city's early horse-drawn trolley line. Judge James H. Robertson bought it in 1887 and carried out a major remodeling in 1896-97. Wings were added to the north and northeast, the walls were veneered in red brick, and limestone lintels and sills were added. A three-story tower with an octagonal turret, a wraparound porch, a porte cochere and a two-story entrance gallery define the exterior. Inside, Robertson installed walnut paneling and stair woodwork bought from a Chicago residence. Robertson served as district attorney, district judge and legislator, and he authored the Robertson Insurance Law, which required insurance companies in Texas to invest 75% of their reserves in the state. The house is listed both as a large Victorian design with Queen Anne detailing and as his residence. When nominated in 1976 it was rented and deteriorating.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an outstanding example of a large Victorian house with a varied and complex plan. It is also tied to Judge James H. Robertson, a district attorney, district judge and legislator who authored the Robertson Insurance Law, which required insurers doing business in Texas to invest 75% of their reserves in the state.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76002073, listed June 24, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 610 W. Lynn St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | June 24, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002073 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | David Sheeks |
| Architectural style | Victorian, with Queen Anne elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Law, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form states the house had been rented for the last few years and was in a deteriorating condition; ownership under the last son's will had not been determined. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | West Line Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.27642, -97.76225 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76002073.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7492333
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.