He was educated at North Adelaide Grammar School, leaving to work in his father's business and eventually becoming a director of Vardon and Sons.

[6] In parliament, Vardon's areas of interest included "federal and state taxation systems, industrial law and the minutiae of government expenditure".

[7][8] On 18 February 1921, Vardon was appointed to the Senate to fill a casual vacancy caused by the death of Robert Guthrie.

His term expired on 4 August due to the Parliament of South Australia's failure to confirm his appointment, but this was rectified five days later.

[1] He had earlier been selected by the Liberal Union for its Senate ticket prior to the 1917 federal election, but withdrew in favour of James Rowell.

[1] In April 1922, Vardon was selected as one of the Liberal Union's three Senate candidates for the next federal election, along with James Rowell and Alexander McLachlan.