Robert Ian "Rob" Knowles (born 4 July 1947) is a former Australian politician. He was born in Ballarat to farmer Robert Joseph Knowles and Dulce, née Odgers. After graduating from Ballarat North Technical School, he became a farmer in Clarendon from 1964. From 1972 to 1976 he worked as a loans officer with the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission. He was a member of the Liberal Party, serving as chairman of the Ballarat Federal Electorate Council from 1972 to 1976, a state executive with the Young Liberals, and a member of the state executive from 1973 to 1976.