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Prominent People

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This section lists industry people who have made a significant contribution to the achievements and success of agriculture in South Australia and Australia. Where information is available from a readily available source, a link is provided.

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Lehmann AM, Peter 1930 - 2013

Peter Lehman was a successful winemaker, being innovative and adaptable. He introduced several new grape varieties and was a great promoter of Australian wines.

Image: The Advertiser

Lewis AO CB, Keith William 1927 - 2013

Keith Lewis was head of Engineering and Water Supply Dept (now SA Water) and was instrumental in introducing River Murray salinity control programs and a single Water Resources Act. He helped create the Dept of Environment and Planning, was on the SA Commission for the River Murray and chair of the SA Land Trust.

Image: The Advertiser

Lienert OAM, Ronald John 1938 - 2010

Ron Lienert was an innovative breeder of pigs which had a profound impact on pig herds in Australia. He had a life-long interest in commercial pork production and was a judge at Royal Shows across Australia.

Image: The Advertiser

Livingston, New Entry -, John 1857 - 1935

John Livingston was a stock-dealer at Mt Gambier and manager of several properties. He prepared one of South Australia's first shipments of fat lambs for export. He judged stock at agricultural shows and encouraged innovations and later became a State and then Federal politician.

Image: National Library of Australia

Lockier, Bruce Watts 1928 - 2020

Bruce Lockier was the founding manager of the Apple and Pear Growers Association of SA. He was instrumental in promoting the industry at very opportunity and introduced many innovations. He worked tirelessly for SA orchardists.

Image: The Advertiser

Lothian OBE, Thomas Robert Noel 1915 - 2004

Noel Lothian was the Director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from 1948 to 1980. He was a passionate advocate for farmers and pastoralists to plant native vegetation.

Image: Mt Lofty Historical Society

Lowrie, William 1857 - 1933

Agricultural educationist. Appointed professor of agriculture and second principal of Roseworthy Agricultural College, in 1888. He became a strong advocate of the use of superphosphate, and the importance of efficient bare fallows to eliminate weeds. Lowrie’s energies in advocating the use of superphosphate overcame initial scepticism and contributed greatly to improving soil condition. He was a member of the Central Agricultural Bureau and his grasp of scientific principles and a practical approach to farming won the respect of the rural community. In 1911, he accepted the position of Director of Agriculture, which he occupied until 1914.

Image: PIRSA

Lyons, Herbert William 1888 - 1958

Farmer, politician and company director. Early in his career Lyons was one of South Australia's biggest wheat-growers. He was a director of Cresco Fertilizers Ltd and as chairman and managing director, Lyons played a major role in piloting Cresco through the depression and expanding in the post-war market.

Image: parliament.sa.gov.au

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MacLachlan, Byron Hug 1900 - 1991

Hugh MacLachlan was born in Adelaide in 1900. Both parents came from families with extensive pastoral interests. He took over as manager of Paratoo station, aged nineteen. MacLachlan built one of Australia’s largest pastoral empires. In 1937 he acquired a vast tract of undeveloped semi-desert land north-west of Tarcoola, subsequently transformed into Commonwealth Hill. He successfully lobbied for the construction of an outer dog fence across the State as protection against dingoes. On 17 June 1947 the South Australian Dog Fence Act came into force and MacLachlan served on the South Australian Dog Fence Board almost continuously from 1947 to 1979.

Maier, Norbert 1950 - 2007

Norbert was one of South Australia’s leading horticultural research scientists. His career was marked by ground breaking insights in horticultural crop nutrition research. With qualifications from Adelaide University Norbert served the States horticultural industries with distinction and was nationally recognised for his work.

Image: The Advertiser

Marshall, Dorothy May 1902 - 1961

Schoolteacher and public servant. Marshall was appointed State superintendent of the Australian Women's Land Army, controlled major policy implementation and determined the labour needs of primary producers. In 1953 the State government appointed her to the Department of Agriculture as organizer of the Women's Agricultural Bureau of South Australia. With her breadth of experience, charm and personality, she revitalized the far-flung organisation.

Image: SLSA B44350 1942

Marshall, Richard 1838 - 1923

Farmer and wheat-breeder. Marshall was a prolific breeder of wheat and developed several varieties which became standards grown by most farmers. By 1915 the variety Yandilla King stood next to Federation as the most popular wheat in Australia. He was appointed a member of the Central Agricultural Bureau, continuing with its successor, the South Australian Council of Agriculture.

Image: trove.nla.gov.au: The Advertiser Wednesday 8 August 1923 p 12

Marshall, Theo John (Tim) 1907 - 2008

Soil scientist. Marshall joined the new CSIR (now CSIRO) Division of Soils in Adelaide in February, 1929, working on irrigated soils of the River Murray system. He was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Society of Soil Science in 1955. As leader of the Soil Physics Section of CSIRO Soils Division in 1945, he was a great mentor for many Australian soil scientists and had a high international reputation.

Image: https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/csiroalumni.site-ym.com/

Marshall, Barry John 1950 - 2014

Barry Marshall was a barley breeder with the Dept of Agriculture before joining the Australian Barley Board and then Joe White Maltings. He worked closely with barley growers and in ensuring South Australia’s reputation for malting barley.

Image: The Advertiser

Marston, Hedley Ralph 1900 - 1965

Biochemist. On 1 March 1928 he joined Robertson's staff in the division of animal nutrition, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Adelaide. On 14 August 1944 he was appointed chief, division of biochemistry and general nutrition. The most publicised research of Marston's division dealt with deficiencies of trace elements in the soils of South Australia and led to the discovery that 'coast disease'—a wasting malady of sheep pastured in the south-east coastal region and other areas—was caused by a lack of cobalt in their diet. This research substantially changed Australian agriculture, and had a significant impact on many hitherto marginal lands throughout the world.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedley_Marston

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