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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.

Merrillees joined the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1964.

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. 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".

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

In February 1990, Merrillees led a team to Cambodia to hold talks with Phnom Penh government officials in preparation for a peace agreement. 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. His appointment lasted until 1995, when he was appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece. Beginning his posting to Athens in January 1996, Merrillees was recalled early from the role, in 1998, and took early retirement.

Merrillees was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1992.

Family

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

Merrillees's younger daughter Dolla Merrillees until recently was the Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre in Sydney. 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.

Works

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

References

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

• Living people
• 1938 births
• Australian writers
• Ambassadors of Australia to Estonia
• Ambassadors of Australia to Finland
• Ambassadors of Australia to Greece
• Ambassadors of Australia to Israel
• Ambassadors of Australia to Sweden
• University of Sydney alumni
• Alumni of the University of London
• Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities