Robert Barbour

Robert Barbour (January 1827 – 4 August 1895) was an Australian politician, merchant and squatter. Early life Barbour was born Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland and migrated to Victoria in 1851. He married Catherine Pitty in 1858 and they had 12 children. He owned redgum sawmills at Echuca, Barmah and Yeilima (near Nathalia, Victoria) until 1877 and several paddle steamers until around 1879. He was later involved in land speculation and became embroiled in expensive legal disputes with Henry Ricketson, ultimately losing before the Privy Council and ordered to pay Ricketson's costs, which all but ruined him financially. Parliamentary career He was the member for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Murray from 1877 to 1880 and from 1882 to 1894. He was a candidate at the 1874-75 election for Murray, endorsed by the local selectors' association but received 41.38% of the votes and was defeated by the sitting member William Hay who was supported by the squatters. Hay did not contest the 1877 election and Barbour was elected with 51.94% of the votes. Murray became a two-member electorate for the 1880 election however Barbour was defeated by Hay and Alexander Wilson. Barbour stood for the 1882 by-election for Gundagai but received just 12.43% of the votes.