Theo Nicholls

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Theo Nicholls

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Theophilus Nicholls.jpg

| title = Senator for South Australia

| term_start = 1 July 1944

| term_end = 30 June 1968

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1893|4|12}}

| birth_place = Wilmington, South Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1977|7|22|1893|4|12}}

| death_place = Henley Beach, South Australia

| nationality =

| spouse =

| party = Labor

| relations =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

| profession =

| religion =

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Theophilus Martin "Theo" Nicholls (21 August 1894 – 22 July 1977) was an Australian politician. Born in Wilmington, South Australia, he received a primary education before becoming a wharf labourer. He served in the military from 1915 to 1917 and was secretary of several unions including the Manufacturing Grocers' Employees Federation and the Wool and Basil Workers Federation.{{Cite Au Senate|Sen id=nicholls-theophilus-martin|name=NICHOLLS, Theophilus Martin (1894–1977)|first=Dean|last=Jaensch|year=2010|access-date=2023-01-08}} He was active in a number of labour movement organisations, such as South Australian Trades and Labour Council, and was vice-president of the South Australian Labor Party. In 1943 he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for South Australia. He served as Chairman of Committees from 1946 to 1949.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/Appendix_3|title=Appendix 3―Deputy Presidents and Chairmen of Committees (1901–2009)|website=Parliament of Australia|access-date=2017-09-10}} Nicholls remained in the Senate until his retirement in 1967.

Nicholls died in 1977, aged 84.

His nephew, Martin Nicholls, was a Labor MP for Bonython 1963–1977.{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Adam |title=1975 House of Representatives: South Australia |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1975/1975repssa.txt |accessdate=2023-01-09 |work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive}}