Roebuck was laid down on 2 October 1899 at the R.W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company shipyard at Hebburn-on-Tyne and launched on 4 March 1901. She arrived at Chatham Dockyard 18 September 1901 to be armed and prepared for sea trials. During her builder’s trials she made her contract speed of 30 knots. She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in March 1902.