Ag Bureau of SA for Men & Women
Self-help clubs of farmers promoting improved agricultural production were formed in progressive rural communities during the 1880’s. At this time, for example, a farmers’ union was formed in the Barossa Valley and a mutual association developed branches throughout the state promoting farm business and political action. Early history of The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia (PDF 316.9 KB).
At the beginning of the 1880’s, Albert Molineaux, a farmer at Klemzig, then a printer, gold miner and then finally the editor of the South Australian Register and the Observer began waging an unrelenting campaign to promote farmers’ clubs conforming to his view that, for long term viability, ‘Politics, religion and all debatable subjects should be nowhere in a farmers’ union’. His aim was strongly supported by landowners and the Agricultural Bureau was formed which, for the following 120 years profoundly influenced the development of profitable and sustainable cereal growing, pastoral, dairying and horticulture production across the state.
From the beginning of the initiatives, Parliament assisted the bureau movement by appointing leading agriculturalists to a Central Agricultural Bureau designed to advise governments on agricultural issues and direct resources, such as a secretariat, to the movement. This body became the Advisory Board of Agriculture which still today provides successive governments on rural landowner issues.
During the life of the Men’s Agricultural Bureau nearly 550 branches were formed with more than 150 active at any one time. During the height of the movements popularity in the 1960’s one in three farmers in the wheat belt were active members. Across the country 100 meetings were held each week keenly supported by horticultural advisers, agronomists, livestock officers and economists in the Department of Agriculture and specialists in the CSIRO, the universities and commercial organisations. Branches across the state conducted financial management, soils, crop protection and succession schools and encouraged social interaction when members exchanged their knowledge and experience and offered support. Members were also offered opportunities to participate in field research, farm walks, crop competitions, soil conservation and machinery field days and more recently in Landcare projects.
At a meeting of the Advisory Board of Agriculture in October 1917 steps were taken to form the Women’s Agricultural Bureau, a rural women’s organisation, the first of its kind in Australia. Branches, supported by a government resourced organiser were formed across the state. At its peak there were 84 branches with 2565 members meeting to learn and share their experiences of improving rural family living concentrating on health, nutrition, hygiene and child development and education within the constraints of isolation and distance from urban resources.
In 1999, reflecting the changing role of women in rural areas the Women’s Agricultural Bureau became Women in Agriculture and Business.
Further Reading
- One Hundred Years on the Land (see Books)
A History of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia by Caroline Guerin - Hats off to WAB (external link, new window)
Ninety Years of Women in Agriculture and Business in South Australia by Adair Dunsford - Agricultural Bureau, 1893, Annual Report of the work and Proceedings of the Agricultural Bureau, for the year 1893-94.
C. E. Bristow. Government Printer, North Terrace, Adelaide
