Peter Gebhardt, son of a farmer of German descent, graduated with a law degree from the University of Melbourne. He is a former headmaster of All Saints' College, Bathurst and of Geelong College. From 1996 to 2006 he was a judge of the County Court of Victoria. Gebhardt is the father of
Sophie Gebhardt (q.v.). He is a well-known activist on Indigenous matters and has funded Indigenous Visiting Fellowships at Trinity.