With a background in history, decorative arts and architecture, Robert Griffin’s expertise is in heritage assessment, historic place management, and the conservation and interpretation of historic sites and interiors. With over 30 years in the heritage field, his extensive management experience has ranged from historic houses and gardens to rural properties and industrial sites. This experience has also included the curatorial management of seven historic sites as supervising curator for the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales (1986-2012) including Government House, Sydney and The Sydney Mint; major heritage projects for both State and Federal governments; heritage advice to bodies ranging from the Federal Government Official Establishments to private clients; and involvement with regional museums and local history groups in the care, management and interpretation of their historic sites and interiors.

He has planned and directed a range of conservation programmes for buildings including stonework and interior decorative finishes; furniture, paintings and decorative arts collections. Robert has also researched the history and development of many historic sites and collections and interpreted these through displays, publications, public programmes and websites. He has undertaken many collaborative projects with regional and community museums and worked with a variety of professional and volunteer groups.

Robert Griffin BA (Macquarie), Master of the Built Environment (UNSW) holds a degree in history and post-graduate qualifications in building conservation. He has been a committee member, Building Improvements Grants Program for Museums & Galleries NSW and the National Trust (NSW) Historic Buildings Committee. He has taught Interior Architecture at the University of New South Wales, and lectured for the University of Sydney.  Robert has also lectured and published widely on architectural history, conservation practice, and decorative arts, and has also curated several exhibitions in these fields.

Robert has won the 2023 Peter Walker Fine Arts Writing Award for his article “The Squatter’s Delight, or ‘A Man’s Chair'”, Australiana, vol 45, no 3, 2023. This award is presented once a year for the most outstanding article published by the Australiana Society in their quarterly journal Australiana.