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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.

M

Melrose, James ? - 1922

Pastoralist and wheat grower. A well-known pastoralist, born at Rosebank, who owned Wangaraleednie, on Eyre Peninsula, and subsequently purchased Willocolecke, near Hallett. Although his chief interest was in Merinos, he also took a keen interest in agriculture, and was a large grower of wheat and other cereals.

Image: trove.nla.gov.au: Chronicle Saturday 22 April 1922 p 44

Melrose, Sir John 1860 - 1938

Pastoralist and philanthropist. Born at Rosebank, he later owned several properties and began a series of pioneering stock imports: in 1895 he brought the first Dorset sheep to Australia; in 1913 the first French Percheron draughthorses; in 1928 the first Wensleydale sheep, from New Zealand. He was a great philanthropist and in 1927 donated £10,000 to the Waite Agricultural Research Institute to build its first proper chemical laboratory. He desired 'to help research … with problems of any and every nature associated with the land'.

Image: trove.nla.gov.au: Chronicle Thursday 22 September 1938 p 50

Melville, James 1908 - 1984

Agricultural scientist. After working in New Zealand, Melville was appointed director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, in January 1956. Melville vigorously encouraged colleagues to collaborate with researchers in the State Department of Agriculture, the CSIRO and with university staff located at North Terrace. Throughout his career Melville sought to contribute to the development of agricultural industries on a national rather than parochial basis.

Image: The University of Adelaide - Urrbrae House Historic Precinct Photograph Collection

Michell, George Howard (Howard) 1913 - 2012

Howard Michell was born into a family who were leading wool processors and he continued and expanded the business so that he was buying 10 to 15 percent of the entire Australian wool clip.

Image: The Advertiser

Miller, Thomas Charles (Tom) 1917 - 2012

After a career interstate and overseas, Tom Miller was appointed as Chief Horticulturist in the Dept of Agriculture. He expertly managed the Horticulture Branch supporting the significant apple and citrus industries, the mixed horticulture industries and protecting those industries by managing the fruit fly eradication program.

Image: PIRSA Ag History

Mitchell, Thomas 1844 - 1908

Farmer. Mitchell proposed a producers' union to combat the effects of depressed agricultural prices and the power of dealers. He aired his ideas at a private meeting that he chaired at Jamestown on 28 February 1888, when a committee was formed. As earlier attempts at farmers' co-operation had failed, there was considerable scepticism. Nevertheless the scheme matured: in October the South Australian Farmers' (later Co-operative) Union Ltd was floated, with a paid-up capital of under £300, ninety-four shareholders. Mitchell became managing director (until his death) and travelled the countryside in pursuit of new members and agencies, in order to expand capital and increase the volume of business.

Image: SLSA PRG 1610/11/63

Molineux, Albert 1832 - 1909

Farmer, editor and promoter of agriculture. In 1875 Molineux decided to produce an agricultural journal and with a fellow compositor, Samuel Richards, produced the first edition of the Garden and Field. Richards resigned after six months but Molineux continued the journal. He also wrote for the Observer in 1875 and was later its agricultural editor. With these positions and his own journal he exerted great influence on South Australian agriculture. From 1875 in the Garden and Field Molineux had advocated the establishment of experimental farms, the appointment of a professor of agriculture and the creation of a department of agriculture. The Agricultural Bureau System was developed largely by his inspiration and under his guidance. He became its first secretary, a position which he retained until 1902 and successfully extended the Bureau system to many areas in the State.

Image: SLSA B16260 1890

Morphett, Hurtle Willoughby 1855 - 1938

Pastoralist. Hurtle Morphett was born at Cummins House, Morphettville in 1855 and spent his early life on pastoral properties of relatives. He was one of the best-known pastoralists in South Australia. The greater part of his life was spent at Woods Point, near Murray Bridge, which became one of the most valuable pastoral properties in the State.

Image: SLSA B 22147

Mortlock, John Andrew Tennant 1894 - 1950

Benefactor and pastoralist. He became a successful pastoralist and stud Merino breeder, and chaired the Yudnapinna Pastoral Co. Ltd and Yalluna Pty Ltd. In 1926 Mortlock donated £2000 to the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide. In 1936 he and his mother gave a further £25,000 to establish the Ranson Mortlock Trust for research into soil erosion and pasture regeneration.

Image: SLSA B43444 1936

Mortlock, William Ranson c1821 - 1884

Pastoralist and parliamentarian. After arriving in South Australia Mortlock set up as a maltster with interests in flour-milling. In 1847 he moved into pastoral pursuits, his first venture was near Port Lincoln; with additional leases and purchases it became Yalluna station. In 1852 Mortlock was appointed an inspector of sheep under the Scab Act but later resigned. Mortlock was a far-sighted pioneer whose skill and tenacity led to the success of grazing in low-rainfall areas of South Australia. He greatly extended his holdings and later entered Parliament.

Image: SLSA B2344 1868

Mudge, Leon Alfred 1943 - 2019

Leon Mudge was a farmer in the Nunjikompita area of Eyre Peninsula who farmed Poll Herefords and cereals. He was on the Committee of the Minnipa Research Centre and at Roseworthy College. He hosted cropping trials on his property and was an advocate for agricultural research.

Image: The Advertiser

Mules, John Hawkes William c1876 - 1946

Over a period of some 15 years, John Mules refined methods to minimise fly strike in sheep and, although slow to be adopted by farmers, became the accepted practice.

Murray, John 1842 - 1908

Flockmaster. John Murray was a prominent citizen and a flockmaster who significantly influenced the pastoral industry. He was a man of high character, and was recognised throughout Australia as a sound judge of sheep. He produced a strain of sheep that had strong constitutions with heavy fleeces of good combining wool. For several years he was president of the Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia, and took a prominent part in every movement calculated to promote rural industries and made a name throughout Australia and New Zealand as a breeder of high-class Merino sheep.

Image: SLSA B11342 1890

Mutze, Greg 1957 - 2022

Greg Mutze was an excellent researcher in the South Australian government who devoted his career to the control of mouse plagues and rabbits. The outcomes of his research significantly benefited the rural economy and the environment.

Image: Mutze Family

N

Nelle, Susan 1942 - 2016

Susan came to South Australia from the US with experience in strategic planning and change management. While visiting she was appointed the Executive Director of the food for the Future Program, a collaboration between the food industry and government. With the support of senior industry leaders and government she revolutionised the food sector in SA, increasing value added food industries and increasing exports. She then headed up the Commonwealth Food Industry Strategy before returning to Adelaide as the Senior Research Fellow in the Global Food Resources program at Adelaide University.

Image: Winston Churchill Trust

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