| 1934 | Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Sydney |
| 1934 | Science Research Scholar at the University of Sydney |
| 1935 - 1936 | Linnean Macleay Fellow in Plant Physiology at the University of Sydney |
| 1939 | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of Cambridge, UK |
| 1939 - 1946 | Assistant Lecturer, later Lecturer in Botany at the University of Sydney |
| 1946 - 1947 | Senior Research Officer at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Food Preservation and Transport |
| 1949 | President of the Linnean Society of New South Wales |
| 1952 - 1955 | Principal Research Officer at the CSIRO Division of Food Preservation and Transport |
| 1952 - 1955 | Senior Principal Research Officer at the CSIRO Division of Food Preservation and Transport |
| 1954 - | Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA) |
| 1954 | President of the Botany Section of ANZAAS (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science) |
| 1954 | Clarke Memorial Medal received from the Royal Society of New South Wales |
| 1955 - 1959 | Chief Research Officer at the CSIRO Division of Food Preservation and Transport |
| 1958 | Secretary (Biological Sciences) of the Australian Academy of Science |
| 1958 - 1959 | Visiting Professor at the University of California, USA |
| 1959 - 1962 | Member of the Executive of CSIRO |
| 1961 - | Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) |
| 1961 | Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Sydney |
| 1962 | Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences |
| 1962 - 1969 | Professor of Botany at the University of Adelaide |
| 1963 | Farrer Memorial Medal received from the Australian Academy of Science |
| 1965 | President of ANZAAS |
| 1965 - 1969 | Chairman of the Australian Research Grants Committee |
| 1968 | ANZAAS Medal received (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science) |
| 1968 | Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) |
| 1969 - 1972 | Master of University House at the Australian National University in Canberra |
| 1970 | ANZAAS Mueller Medal received (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science) |
| 1970 - 1974 | President of the Australian Academy of Science |
| 1971 - 1973 | Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Ramaciotti Medical Research Foundation |
| 1972 | Knight Bachelor (Kt cr) |
| 1973 - 1978 | Director of the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University |
| 1977 - 1981 | Deputy Chairman of the Australian Science and Technology Council |
| 1980 | Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) |
| 1984 - 1986 | Pro-Chancellor of the Australian National University |
| 1987 | Robertson Symposia established by the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University |
| 1992 | Robertson Theatre opened at the Research School of Biological Sciences |
