[1] He emigrated to South Australia aboard Symmetry, arriving in Adelaide in November 1848 after a long voyage of 147 days.
In February 1852 he joined the rush to the Victorian goldfields, where he was moderately successful and returned to Adelaide late that same year.
[1] He returned to his trade, working as a journeyman printer until June 1855, when he went into business on his own account on Currie Street, roughly opposite Leigh Street,[2] later moved to Gawler Place; it was at this time he published The South Australian Horticulturist and Magazine of Agriculture, Botany and Natural History, edited by J. F. Wood FHS.
Roberts entered the Government service in 1863, and remained there till 1865, when he took over G. Dehane's stationery business at King William Street,[1] opposite White's Rooms.
From January 1867 he accepted the job of printing the weekly Pasquin; from June he acted also as business manager for its founder and editor E. R. Mitford.