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Robert Merrillees
FAHA
Robert Merrillees FAHA
Born	25 July 1938 (age 86)
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Sydney (BA); University of London (PhD)
Occupation(s)	Diplomat, archaeologist, author
Spouse	Parvine Helen Merrillees
Children	Antoinette and Dolla
Parent(s)	Edna Merrillees, John Merrillees

Robert S. Merrillees FAHA (born 25 July 1938) is a former Australian diplomat and archaeologist. His memoir Diplomatic Digs was released in 2012 as an e-book.^[1]

Merrillees joined the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1964.^[2]

In the early 1970s, Merrillees, along with his wife and their two daughters, took part in the Columbia University Expedition to Phlamoudhi, Cyprus, led by Edith Porada.^[3] Reminiscing about the two seasons of excavations that the family took part in, Merrillees described the experience as "unforgettable", leaving them with "a sense of achievement, lasting friendships and a nostalgia for times past".^[4]

Merrillees first ambassadorial appointment was in 1983, in Tel Aviv where he was Australian Ambassador to Israel until 1987.^[5]

In February 1990, Merrillees led a team to Cambodia to hold talks with Phnom Penh government officials in preparation for a peace agreement.^[6] The next month Merrillees travelled to Washington, New York, Canada and Paris to continue discussions on a Cambodian settlement.

In October 1991, Merrillees took up an appointment as Australian Ambassador to Sweden; and non-resident Ambassador to Finland.^[7] His appointment lasted until 1995, when he was appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece.^[2] Beginning his posting to Athens in January 1996, Merrillees was recalled early from the role, in 1998, and took early retirement.^[8]

Merrillees was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1992.^[9]

Family

Merrillees's elder daughter, Antoinette, also joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and in 2016 was Charge d’affaires in Berlin.^[10] She is married to Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,^[11] James Larsen, former Australian Ambassador to Israel and to Turkey.^[12] They have three children together: Robert, Isobel and Alexandra.

Merrillees's younger daughter Dolla Merrillees until recently^[when?] was the Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre in Sydney.^[13]^[14] She is also the author of the book, The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale, the story of her struggles in becoming a stepmother.^[15]

Works

Diplomatic Digs, Echo Books, 2012
Living with Egypt's Past in Australia, Museum of Victoria, 1990, ISBN 9780724196739

References

^ Johnson, Chris (4 August 2012). "Beware of diplomats bearing digs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ ^a ^b Evans, Gareth (13 October 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Greece" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^ Smith, Joanna S. (2008), "Bringing Old Excavations to Life", Near Eastern Archaeology, 71 (1–2): 30–40, doi:10.1086/NEA20361346, S2CID 166364988
^ The Faces of Phlamoudi: Reviews in the press, a radio interview, and other critical perspectives, archived from the original on 31 July 2016
^ Goodall, Bill (15 May 1985). "Israeli Government 'dedicated to reconciliation'". The Canberra Times. p. 19.
^ "Aust team in Cambodia to study UN peace role". 6 February 1990.
^ "New ambassador". The Canberra Times. 22 September 1991. p. 2.
^ Everingham, Barry (15 August 2005). "Alexander Downer's ousted diplomats". Crikey. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ Merrillees, Robert, Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques FAHA, Australian Academy of the Humanities, archived from the original on 27 March 2016
^ "Australia. Antoinette E. Merrillees" (PDF). FAO. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
^ "Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations".
^ "Australian Embassy in".
^ Taylor, Andrew (12 April 2016). "Dolla Merrillees appointed director of Powerhouse Museum as Parramatta River site chosen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ Merrillees, Dolla (14 November 2015), Go dad!, Twitter
^ "The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale". www.parentingexpress.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by David Goss	Australian Ambassador to Israel 1983 – 1987	Succeeded by John Campbell
Preceded by Ian Nicholson	Australian Ambassador to Sweden Australian Ambassador to Finland Australian Ambassador to Estonia 1991 – 1995	Succeeded by Judith Pead
Preceded by Alan Edwards	Australian Ambassador to Greece 1996 – 1998	Succeeded by Ross Burns