Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. insecure, unstable .

1913		Truth (Perth) 25 Jan. 12/3: With the exception of a bit for Maiden at 5’s, and a little for Rapanui at 7’s, nothing else was backed. Early there was a tendency to support Harry Lauder, but he was very ‘warby’ towards the end.
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl.

2. unprepossessing in appearance or disposition, unkempt, disreputable, decrepit.

1924		Sport (Adelaide) 4 Apr. 4/5: Either clean-shaven or with nicely-trimmed ziff, they are living pictures of poverty camouflaged. Others are very ‘warby’ (ragged and greasy).
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 207: Of all the warby ideas [...] the warbiest is you going on your own.
1959		D. Niland Big Smoke 183: A warby unshaven young man in working clothes walked through.
1963		‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 207: Look at all ’er warby mates. Wot’s ’e gettin’ ’imself into?
1974		J. McNeil How Does Your Garden Grow Act III: Wasn’t him, it was you and yer warby self kept us all propped there.

3. unwell.

1932		Townsville Dly Bulletin (Qld) 1 Dec. 7/2: The coons carried him right down to the coast, a hell of a job down jungle tracks as slimy as a pit. Jack is in a Sydney hospital now, looking pretty warby on it, but swears he’s going back to New Guinea .
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 241/2: warby – sick.