In 1894, during the gold rush, Clydesdale left for Western Australia, living first in Cue and later in Mount Magnet.

[2] At the 1901 state election, Clydesdale contested the seat of Mount Magnet as a Ministerialist (a supporter of the government of George Throssell), but was defeated by Frank Wallace.

[1] In 1920, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to the war effort.

[3] He re-entered parliament at the 1932 Legislative Council election, defeating Sir William Lathlain in Metropolitan-Suburban Province.

In 1933, Clydesdale was appointed chairman of the State Lotteries Commission, but he had to resign the position the following year over a perceived conflict of interest.