Robert Bliss Wilkinson (22 July 1837 – 26 April 1928) was an English-born Australian politician and successful businessman who was one of two parliamentary members for the New South Wales electorate of Balranald from December 1880 to June 1894. Wilkinson had experience in banking and as a pastoralist and from 1869 he and his brother-in-law and partner James S. Lavender engaged in business at Wagga Wagga as stock and station agents and auctioneers. The profitable business established branch offices at Hay, Sydney and Bourke. Wilkinson was the senior partner and the managing director after the business was formed into a limited liability company.

Biography

Early years

Robert Bliss Wilkinson was born on 22 July 1837 at Northampton, England, the second son of David Wilkinson and Elizabeth (née Bliss). Robert's father was a civil engineer by profession.The Late Robert B. Wilkinson, The Riverine Grazier (Hay), 1 May 1928, page 2.Everard Digby (ed.) (1889), pages 285-286.Death of Mr. R. B. Wilkinson, Sydney Mail, 2 May 1928, page 42.

Young Robert was educated at Hanwell College in west London, under the care of Rev. Dr. Emerton, a school specialising in educating boys who intended to enter military careers.Geoffrey Cantor (2011), Religion and the Great Exhibition of 1851, Chapter 2: 'Preparing for the Exhibition', Oxford Academic (online), pages 41-71.

As a 15 year-old Wilkinson arrived in Victoria in November 1852 with his family, at "the height of gold fever". He "experienced a share of the many hardships and privations attendant on the then unsettled state of colonial life".Everard Digby (editor) (1889), page 286.Mr. R. B. Wilkinson, The Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 1 May 1928, page 2. In 1853 Wilkinson entered into service with the Bank of Victoria and was employed "for some years" in branch offices on the Castlemaine and Maryborough diggings. He was later employed in the Union Bank in Melbourne.

Stock and station business

In February 1863 Wilkinson's younger sister, Mary Jane, married James Smith Lavender at All Saints church in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran.Marriages, The Argus (Melbourne), 2 March 1863, page 4.

Wilkinson and Lavender became business partners and in 1863 they set out for the Wagga Wagga district on the Murrumbidgee River in the eastern Riverina region of New South Wales, where they purchased 'Temora' and 'The Rock' stations. In 1864 they purchased the 'Marrar' pastoral run.Deniliquin Stock Report, The Argus (Melbourne), 31 May 1864, page 4.The Late J. S. Lavender, Wagga Wagga Advertiser, 23 December 1899, page 6. Later they added 'Yarangobilly' station to their landholdings.

In 1867 Lavender and Wilkinson's pastoral run, 'Yarangobilly North', was sold to A. H. Richardson.Transfer of Runs, The Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 7 March 1868, page 3. The partners made improvements to their runs "and learned much that later proved of great value to them", but by 1868 the country was in severe drought resulting in a decision to sell their properties. In September 1868 'Temora' and 'The Rock' pastoral properties were sold to J. McPherson.The London and Australian Agency Corporation (Limited) report, The Argus (Melbourne), 21 September 1868, page 4.

After selling their pastoral runs, Wilkinson and Lavender decided to become stock and station agents. Wilkinson initially engaged in a business partnership with George Forsyth, an established storekeeper and auctioneering and stock and station agent in Wagga Wagga.William R. Ellis (1990), The Street Names of Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga City Council; online version accessed 19 October 2025. In April 1869 Lavender purchased a share in the business partnership of George Forsyth and Wilkinson, which continued to trade as George Forsyth and Co.Notice, Wagga Wagga Advertiser and Riverine Reporter, 22 May 1869, page 1. The partnership between Wilkinson and George Forsyth was formally and mutually dissolved in June 1871.Dissolution of Partnership, New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney), 27 June 1871 (Issue No. 162), page 1418.

In July 1871 Wilkinson and local businessman Phineas Hann became partners, trading as Wilkinson, Hann, and Co., stock and station agents and auctioneers with an office in Fitzmaurice Street in Wagga.Wilkinson, Hann, & Co., Wagga Wagga Advertiser and Riverine Reporter, 8 July 1871 page 3.

The business established by Wilkinson and Lavender underwent personnel changes throughout the 1870s and 1880s, with new partners being admitted and retiring at various times (but with Wilkinson as the senior partner from 1871).Death of Mr. J. S. Lavender, The Hay Standard, 22 November 1899, page 2. In August 1873 the two stock and station agency firms of Wilkinson, Hann, and Co. and Mr. Stapleton Minchin amalgamated their businesses and afterwards traded as Wilkinson, Hann, Minchin, and Co.Agency Partnership, Wagga Wagga Advertiser and Riverine Reporter, 23 August 1873 page 2.

Wilkinson arrived at Hay in June 1874 to establish a branch of Wilkinson, Hann, Minchin, and Co. there.Stock Agency, The Riverine Grazier (Hay), 1 July 1874, page 2. Wilkinson used the Hay office as the headquarters of the business. Wilkinson and Lavender also established an office in Sydney, and later at Bourke on the Darling River.

In November 1875 Wilkinson's partner, James S. Lavender, married Sarah Jane ('Jennie') Hann at Emerald Hill in Melbourne (his second marriage).Marriages, The Argus (Melbourne), 22 November 1875, page 1. In 1878 J. S. Lavender took charge of the Hay office, but Wilkinson was "a frequent visitor, and always kept in personal touch with the Hay district graziers".

In September 1878 Phineas Hann retired from the partnership and the business was afterwards carried on by Wilkinson, Minchin and Lavender (under that name), stock and station agents at Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Hay.Partnership Notice, The Riverine Grazier (Hay), 14 September 1878, page 2. In October 1879 Warden Harry Graves was admitted as a partner to the business, which then became known as Wilkinson, Graves, Minchin, and Lavender.Monetary and Commercial, Sydney Morning Herald, 15 October 1879, page 4.

Political career

In 1880 Wilkinson decided to contest the New South Wales elections for the Balranald electorate. Under the Electoral Act of 1880 the Balranald electorate was changed from a single member to a two-member electorate. In the lead-up to the election the sitting member Colin Simson announced that he did not intend "to offer himself for re-election".Our present member..., Hay Standard, 4 August 1880, page 2.

Four candidates were nominated for the electorate.Balranald – 1880, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 17 October 2025. Wilkinson and John Cramsie, a Balranald storekeeper and shipping agent, campaigned together "as graziers' candidates for the two seats". At meetings in the electorate Wilkinson declared himself as a free trade supporter.Balranald Election: Mr. R. B. Wilkinson at Hay, The Riverine Grazier (Hay), 20 November 1880, page 2. At the election held in November 1880 Wilkinson was elected as one of the two members to represent the Balranald electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, together with John Cramsie. Wilkinson polled slightly behind Cramsie with 1,002 votes (or 34.5 percent).

In February 1881 Stapleton Minchin left the partnership, the firm then becoming known as Wilkinson, Graves and Lavender, carrying on business in co-partnership as stock and station agents and sheep and cattle salesmen.Notice of Dissolution and We, the undersigned..., New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney), 25 February 1881 (Issue No. 73), page 1114.

Robert Wilkinson and Alice Georgiana Foss Jarrett were married on 15 November 1882 in the Christ Church in South Yarra, Victoria.Family records, Ancestry.com.

At the general election held in December 1882 both Wilkinson and Cramsie were re-elected unopposed to represent the Balranald electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.Balranald – 1882, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 17 October 2025.

Wilkinson's wife Alice died of typhoid, aged 23, on 9 April 1884 in New South Wales.

Wilkinson was a prominent voice in parliament in connection with the Land Act of 1884. Prior to those reforms a landholder had wide choice as to which part of his run could be selected, a situation leading to corrupt practices such as 'dummying' and causing "endless friction with the selectors". The 1884 Act divided the pastoral runs into leasehold and resumed areas and confined selection to the resumed sections of a holding. Although it did not entirely eliminate 'dummying', the Land Act "was a great boon to the pastoral industry... [and] put the smaller man on a better footing and led to more cordial relations between the two classes of holders".

Wilkinson's "trenchant criticism" of the Federation Enabling Bill of 1885 is recognised as being a critical factor in the defeat of the legislation in New South Wales. The British legislation sought to enable the creation of the Federal Council of Australasia, a precursor to Australian Federation. Although he was in favour of the federation of the Australian colonies, Wilkinson "opposed the measure then introduced because of its anomalies and ill-digested form".

At the general election held in October 1885 there were three nominations, but both Wilkinson and Cramsie were re-elected to represent the Balranald electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Wilkinson topped the poll with 1,025 votes (or 37.2 percent).Balranald – 1885, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 17 October 2025.

In November 1886 Warden Harry Graves retired from the partnership by mutual consent. The business was then carried on by Wilkinson and Lavender (under that name).Notice, Wagga Wagga Advertiser, 18 February 1886, page 3. In September 1889 Wilkinson and Lavender admitted Thomas William Chapman as a partner in the business, which then became known as Wilkinson, Lavender and Chapman.Messrs Wilkinson and Lavender, The Riverine Grazier (Hay), 6 September 1889, page 2.

At the 1887 general election three candidates nominated for the Balranald electorate, Wilkinson (the sitting member and a free trade supporter) and two supporters of protectionism, Allen Lakeman and A. L. P. Cameron. At the election held in February 1887 Wilkinson was re-elected along with Lakeman. Wilkinson polled behind Lakeman with 777 votes (or 33.2 percent).Balranald – 1887, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 19 May 2025. Both Wilkinson and Lakeman were re-elected unopposed at the New South Wales election of February 1889.Balranald – 1889, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 19 May 2025.

Robert Wilkinson and Annie Louisa Leitch were married on 26 February 1890 in the Sydney suburb of Burwood (his second marriage).Marriage, The Hay Standard, 12 March 1890, page 2. The couple had three children, two daughters and a son.

There were four nominations for the 1891 general election, Wilkinson and Lakeman (the sitting members), the protectionist A. L. P. Cameron and James Newton, a candidate with working-class and union support. At the election held in June and early July 1891 Wilkinson and Newton were elected to represent the electoral district of Balranald. Wilkinson polled behind Newton with 705 votes (or 26 percent).Balranald – 1891, 'New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007', Parliament of New South Wales website; accessed 11 May 2025.