Donald Robert (Don) Watson was born in Brisbane on 3 June 1945. The family home in which he grew up was a Queenslander house designed by Thomas Ramsay Hall. He had a keen interest in architecture from an early age; however, as the son of two doctors, it was assumed he would follow in their footsteps and his studies at the Church of England Grammar School were focussed towards medicine. Once he he had decided on an architecture career path, Watson enrolled in the Brisbane Central Technical College (now the Queensland University of Technology) to complete art classes that would equip him with technical drawing skills and other skills required for architecture studies. In 1963 he won the Open Scholarship to undertake the University of Queensland’s Bachelor of Architecture degree. While studying part-time he worked with Lund, Hutton, Black and Paulsen (1963 to 1964) and was employed by James Birrell and Partners (1967 to 1969). After graduating Watson worked for Hayes and Scott (Brisbane), 1970; AB Waters and Associates (London), 1971; and Geoffrey Pie and Associates (Brisbane), 1972 to 1974. After acquiring a house in South Brisbane in 1974, Watson developed an interest in local architectural history and began research for the book The Queensland House for the National Trust of Queensland. From 1975 to 1979 he practiced as an architectural consultant in Brisbane. From 1979 to 1989 Watson was employed in half- and full-time capacities as a lecturer in the University of Queensland's Department of Architecture.