Robert Harper (1 February 1842 – 9 January 1919) was an Australian politician.

In 1879, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the member for West Bourke; he was defeated in 1880, but in 1882 returned to the Assembly as the member for East Bourke.

He was defeated again in 1889, but was returned as member for East Bourke 1891–97.

He joined the Commonwealth Liberal Party when it was formed out of the fusion of the Protectionists and the Anti-Socialists.

Harper's seat of Mernda was abolished in 1913, and he retired.