
Overview
Background
Richard is a cultural anthropologist in the School of Social Science at UQ. His research focuses on Indigenous land rights and native title, cultural heritage, Australian anthropology, and Australian history and culture.
Richard has a PhD in social and cultural studies from The University of Western Australia. His PhD research examined relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the remote Gulf Country of northern Australia, where he began fieldwork in 2007. After completing his PhD in 2012, Richard has continued to work in the Gulf Country on a range of academic and applied research projects, continuing to develop friendships and collaborations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across this area.
Since joining UQ in 2012, Richard has published a range of scholarly articles in leading academic journals as well as the book, The Gulf Country: The story of people and place in outback Queensland (Allen & Unwin, 2019). He has also carried out extensive applied research with Indigenous people on native title claims and cultural heritage matters across Australia, and given expert evidence in the Federal Court of Australia.
Availability
- Dr Richard Martin is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Education, University of New South Wales
- Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Australian anthropology
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Indigenous culture and heritage
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Cultural loss and compensation
Research impacts
Richard's applied anthropological research has had a significant impact beyond academia. This work has involved participation as an expert researcher on multiple native title claims, where his research has contributed towards the successful resolution of legal proceedings relating to Indigenous rights and interests in land and waters, including in the Kurtjar people's native title claim (Rainbow on behalf of the Kurtjar People v State of Queensland (No 2) [2021] FCA 1251) in the Gulf Country, the Western Kangoulu people's native title claim in Central Queensland (Malone on behalf of the Western Kangoulu People v State of Queensland (No 6) [2025] FCA 363) and elsewhere. His work on Indigenous cultural heritage management has further contributed towards the successful protection of significant sites and areas in the context of resource extraction, economic development, and environmental restoration projects.
Works
Search Professor Richard Martin’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Journal Article
Caring for country - People on country: vital landscapes, indigenous futures, edited by Jon Altman and Sean Kerins
Martin, Richard J. (2013). Caring for country - People on country: vital landscapes, indigenous futures, edited by Jon Altman and Sean Kerins. ABR, 348, 48-49.
2013
Other Outputs
Ganggalida eastern area report
Martin, Richard, Trigger, David and Maclean, Hilda (2013). Ganggalida eastern area report. UniQuest Project No: C00871 St Lucia, QLD, Australia: UQ Culture & Heritage Unit, UniQuest.
2012
Other Outputs
Anthropologist's Report Concerning Ganggalida and Garawa Water Places, Gulf of Carpentaria
Martin, Richard J. (2012). Anthropologist's Report Concerning Ganggalida and Garawa Water Places, Gulf of Carpentaria. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: UQ Culture and Heritage Unit.
2011
Journal Article
Singing saltwater country: journey to the songlines of Carpentaria by John Bradley with Yanyuwa families
Martin, Richard J. (2011). Singing saltwater country: journey to the songlines of Carpentaria by John Bradley with Yanyuwa families. Aboriginal History, 35, 215-217.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Richard Martin is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Compensation for cultural loss
I am currently advertising two PhD scholarships with fieldwork funding for projects relating to the issue of compensation for cutlural loss in Indigenous Australia.
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Indigenous Christianity and the Queensland Atlas of Religion
I am interested in supervising projects relating to Christianity in Indigenous Australia.
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Native Title and Cultural Heritage Management
I am interested in projects focused on native title and cultural heritage management.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Aboriginal Christianity at Yarrabah
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Understandings of Heritage and Climate Change in Indigenous Southeast Queensland Adaptation Initiatives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Jim Walker
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The Making of Intangible Heritage in Chinese Ethnic Minorities: An Ethnographic Study on Intangible Cultural Heritage, Power, Identity and Social Changes in Bulang Ethnic Group
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisa Ruhanen, Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Out there, back then: chronotopes of presence and absence in Outback Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Babidge
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Reproduction, Loss and Limitations of Indigenous Traditions of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence, Dr Kim de Rijke
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Liquid Heritage: The Birth and Evolution of Tulou Society
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley, Dr Kim de Rijke
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Including the contemporary human footprint in environmentally protected areas in post-apartheid South Africa: Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Babidge
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2019
Master Philosophy
Culture as a commodity? The cultural dynamics of Indigenous tourism in the Far North East of Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Trigger
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A political ecology study of forest wilderness in the Olympic Peninsula (USA) and Tasmania (Australia).
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Trigger, Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Richard Martin directly for media enquiries about:
- Aboriginal Australia
- anthropology
- cultural heritage
- Native title
- native title compensation
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