Both authors are part of the Archaeology program at LaTrobe University in Melbourne and Lawrence is the president of the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology. Both authors have written numerous books, chapters and articles on Australian historical archaeology.
From the reviews: An Archaeology of Australia since 1788 succeeds in presenting the broad-range of Australian historical archaeology and its contribution to understanding Australia's past. The authors are to be congratulated in undertaking such a task and setting the scene for the next decade of growth in the field. This is a work that all serious historical archaeologists need, especially those formulating research designs for projects whether they be salvage archaeology or research archaeology. (Iain Stuart, Australian Archaeology, Issue 72, June, 2011)