Don Gobbett grew up in Berri in the South Australian Riverland. He attended the Adelaide Teachers' College and Adelaide University, qualifying as a secondary school teacher. He went to Rhodesia where, from 1964-1972, he was involved in teacher training. Returning to Australia he joined the staff of the (then) Murray Park College of Advanced Education (later the University of South Australia). Gobbett taught at Murray Park from 1973 until his retirement in 1995, mainly focussing on Geography and Environmental Studies. For twenty-five years he lived in the Cennednyss Community in Summertown in the Adelaide Hills. Gobbett co-authored, with Malcolm Saunders, With Lane in Paraguay: Harry Taylor of the Murray Pioneer 1873-1932 (1995) and with Rod Jepson, compiled a radio course of five units given by Radio University 5UV, University of Adelaide 'Why Can't They Be Like Us?: A Study of Racial Attitudes'.
