Bob Rowland Smith

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

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{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}

Robert Baron "Bob" Rowland Smith (15 October 1925 – 5 July 2012) was an Australian politician. He was a National Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1974 until 1999.

Born in Sydney, Rowland Smith was educated at Knox Grammar School, graduating in 1942. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1943 to 1947 and in the Naval Volunteer Reserve 1947–60, with the rank of lieutenant. After one year at the University of Sydney he became a wool grower and processor, joining the Country Party in 1956. He was Chairman of the Australian Merino Wool Campaign Committee and the Wool Buyers' Association. He was also the founder of Canobolas Wool Topmaking Pty Ltd in Orange.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=1850 |name=The Hon. (Bob) Robert Baron Rowland Smith (1925–2012) |former=Yes |access-date=11 May 2019}}

In 1974, Rowland Smith was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council after Eben Vickery's death. He became Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council in 1978 and Deputy Leader of the Government in 1988, when the Greiner Coalition won government. He was Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing until 1991. He remained in the council until his retirement in 1999; he was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life. He died in July 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.breedingracing.com/news/2012/07/06/robert-rowland-smith-dies-aged-86/|title=Robert Rowland Smith dies aged 86|work=Breeding Racing|date=6 July 2012|accessdate=26 July 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/racing-enthusiast-gave-randwick-a-royal-touch-20120731-23cpu.html|title=Racing enthusiast gave Randwick a royal touch|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 August 2012|accessdate=26 July 2014|author=Michael, Tim}}