Robert Wardlaw

Robert Wardlaw (5 August 1889 – 27 June 1964) was an Australian politician. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1953 to 1962, representing the Liberal Party. He was a World War I veteran and was a prominent businessman and farmer in north-east Tasmania prior to entering politics.

Early life Wardlaw was born on 5 August 1889 in Avoca, Tasmania. He was one of seven children born to Dora Dove (née Miller) and James Bennett Wardlaw. His father was a sheep farmer who had moved to Mathinna to work as a goldminer and later established a butcher's shop.

Wardlaw was raised in Mathinna and received little formal education. His father died in 1906, after which his mother moved the family to Scottsdale and ran another butcher's shop. He was awarded a one-fifth medical pension after the war's end. The casual vacancy caused by Chamberlain's death had originally been filled by John Marriott in March 1953 as the endorsed Liberal candidate. Wardlaw nominated against Marriott as an endorsed Liberal candidate, but placed third on the ballot behind Marriott and independent candidate Bill Wedd.

Wardlaw was re-elected to a full six-year term at the 1955 federal election. He did not recontest his seat at the 1961 election with his term ending on 30 June 1962.

Personal life In 1923, Wardlaw married Jessica Greatrex; there were no children of the marriage. He moved to Launceston in 1953 and died at his home there on 28 June 1964, aged 74.