Robert Torrens was an economist and member of the British Parliament who was a strong advocate for the British colonisation of South Australia. In 1835 he published Colonization of South Australia and became the chairman of the South Australian Colonization Commission.

Torrens immigrated to South Australia in 1839. A member of the Legislative Council from 1851, he was also a member of the first elected government in 1857. In the same year he introduced a Bill to amend the Real Property Act. This revolutionised the management of land ownership in South Australia and was adopted in jurisdictions around the world, being commonly known as the 'Torrens Title'.

Torrens, Robert. Emigration from Ireland to South Australia, Dublin : Obtained gratis from John Bernard, 1839 (London : T. Brettell)

Torrens, Robert. Self supporting colonization, London : Ridgway, and Smith, Elder, 1847

Torrens, Robert, Sir. A handbook on the Real Property Act of South Australia, Adelaide, S. Aust.: Advertiser and Chronicle Offices, 1862?

Torrens, Robert, Sir. The South Australian system of conveyancing by registration of title, [Adelaide?: s.n.], 1859 printing (Adelaide: Printed at the Register and Observer General Printing Offices)