David Andrew Roberts

Professor David Andrew Roberts is a leading scholar in Australian Colonial History at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. His research focuses on penal systems, legal reform, and Indigenous interactions in colonial contexts. He holds a BA(Hons) and PhD from the University of Newcastle. Roberts has led major ARC-funded projects, including 'Inquiring into Empire' (2018-2021) and 'Landscapes of Production and Punishment' (2017-2019). His work spans colonial governance, convict labor, and the historiography of anti-transportation movements.

His publications include Turning Points in Australian History (2009) and edited volumes on convict narratives. Roberts has supervised over a dozen PhD students, examining topics like colonial leadership, Aboriginal welfare, and military history. He serves as editor of the Journal of Australian Colonial History and directs UNE's Heritage Futures Research Centre. Key contributions include analyzing penal landscapes, legal evolution, and Indigenous agency in colonial Australia.

Grants and collaborations highlight his interdisciplinary approach, linking archaeology, legal history, and heritage studies. Roberts' work bridges academic research and public engagement, emphasizing colonial legacies in modern contexts.