Robert Malachy Serjeant was born on the 21st December 1828 at Callington Cornwall. He was the son of Philip Davey Serjeant and Eliza Malachy whohadbeen married on the 5th January 1828 at Maker, Cornwall. Philip Davey Serjeant was a Surgeon in the Royal Marines. Robert Malachy was the grandson of the Rev. John Serjeant of Callington.

Robert Malachy Serjeant came to South Australia on the "William Money" arriving on the 3rd January 1949. His sisters Susan and Caroline Eliza accompanied him.

After following the gold rushes to various fields in South Australia and then in Victoria, Robert came to Ballarat in January 1854. On the 6th March 1855 Robert Serjeants party of men found a very large nugget of gold weighing 500 oz. His share was worth about five years wages. He set up the first cast iron puddling machine and iron sluice in Ballarat. His wealth enabled him to begin dealing in shares, becoming one of Ballarat's earliest sharebrokers. He provided financial support to several prospecting parties.

Robert Malachy Serjeant returned to South Australia to marry Elizabeth Peters at the Trinity Church, Adelaide on the 2nd July 1856. Elizabeth born 1829, was the second daughter of Captain Thomas Peters and his wife Mary Ann Harris, of Rundle Street, Adelaide.

In the earlier days he was the Mining Manager of the Chryseis, Isis and Garabaldi Claims on the Durham Lead. He was best known as the Mine Manager and Legal Manager of the famous Band and Albion Console Company, a position which he held for over 30 years, resigning when the Company amalgamated with the Sir Henry Loch.

June 1881, Prince Albert and his younger brother Prince George (later King George V.) paid a visit to The Band and Albion Mine and were ushered through the mine by Robert Serjeant, the Manager. It is reputed that the two Princes then had afternoon tea in the Serjeant home, which was known as "Yarrowee Hall" in Darling Street, Ballarat. This magnificent 40 square weatherboard home, still remains relatively intact to this day. The Drawing Room features a certified French wallpaper known as "L'Eden". The mural consists of trees, mountains, streams, grazing deer and exotic flowers and was made up in the 1860's, from a series consisting of twenty-three panels for which 3,642 blocks were made. The vast cornice is hand marbled and the extensive ceiling rose is gold leafed.

Robert Malachy Serjeant died aged 73 years. He was buried on the 27th October 1902 in the Ballarat Old Cemetery. His wife Elizabeth died aged 76 years. She was buried on the 24th September, 1905 in the family grave.