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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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Pickhaver, Gordon 1918 - 2009

Gordon Pickhaver began employment in the Dairy Branch of Farmers Union and after WW2 joined the Department of Agriculture as milk products officer, rising to Principal Dairy Officer. His expertise was in butter and cheese and was a regular judge at the Royal Adelaide Show.

Image: The Advertiser

Polden, Errol James 1918 - 2021

Errol provided strong leadership of the South Australian poultry (egg production particularly) industry for over half a decade. Following early experience as an egg producer, Errol joined the poultry team at the Parafield Research Centre to the north of Adelaide. His role within the Department of Agriculture was as a Poultry Advisor with responsibility for much of the State.

Prescott, James Arthur 1890 - 1987

Agricultural chemist. Prescott was appointed to the chair of agricultural chemistry at the newly established Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1924 and travelled widely to familiarise himself with Australian soils to interpret the effect that climate, vegetation and other factors had on soils. He drew a map of the major soil zones of the continent. This work established him as the leading authority on soil science in Australia. In 1929 Prescott was appointed part-time chief of the CSIR division of soils, with headquarters at the Waite Institute and from 1938 was also director of the Waite Institute, where he administered research and education in a wider field of agricultural science. In 1956-70 he was a council-member of the Australian Wine Research Institute.

Image: University of Adelaide Library, 2440/47818

Q

Quirk, James Patrick (Jim) 1924 - 2022

Jim Quirk made a major contribution to world soil science, particularly in relation to soil structure and plant nutrient availability and salinity and water absorption in soils. His research led to the correct management of water in salinity prone soils. He became director of the Waite Institute at the University of Adelaide.

Image: Adelaide University

R

Reuter, Obituaries -, Douglas James 1940 - 2013

Doug commenced an illustrious career excelling academically and on the sports field, becoming Captain of Pulteney School. He then undertook an agriculture degree at Adelaide University and PhD at Murdock University in WA. He joined the department of Agriculture and commenced a career in soil and plant nutrition. He was appointed to the CSIRO Division of Soils where he took a national leadership role in soil and plant nutrition and the National Land and Water audit. Doug reached the position of Deputy Chief of Division.

Image: CSIRO

Reynell, John 1809 - 1873

Pastoralist and vigneron. Reynell arrived in Adelaide in 1838 and took up Reynella Farm where he grew wheat and potatoes and bred sheep and cattle. The following year he was one of fifty settlers who formed the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia. His pastoral pursuits initially flourished but then collapsed during an economic recession. Reynell was convinced that the vine, olive and fig could be cultivated in South Australia and in 1841 he planted the first vineyard which then began an enterprise which continues. He pioneered the export of claret and burgundy to New Zealand.

Image: SLSA PRG 29/35/1/21

Reynell, Walter 1846 - 1919

Pastoralist and vigneron. Helped his father develop the vineyards above and spent two years on Beltana station working for (Sir) Thomas Elder. For many years he ran a land agency business in Adelaide and became manager of Elder Smith & Co., supervising the stock business of the firm and its numerous branches before returning to Reynella to tend the vineyards. He was a member of the Pastoralists' Association of South Australia, the South Australian Vinegrowers' Association, and director of Elder Smith & Co. and of the South Australian Brewing Co.

Image: SLSA B62972 1876

Richardson, Arnold Edwin Victor 1883 - 1949

Agricultural scientist. Educated at Roseworthy Agricultural College, he later joined the State Department of Agriculture where he bred the successful wheat variety, Gallipoli. Foundation professor of agriculture and first director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide from 1924, Richardson investigated the development of pastures and the economics of farm management in Australia. In the early 1930s, he won the confidence of farmers, pastoralists, industrialists, agricultural scientists and governments, and took up the appointment of deputy chief executive officer Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) directing research and development in Australian primary production. From 1946 till his retirement in 1949 he was chief executive officer of CSIR. His vision and energy were responsible for establishing the Waite Agricultural Research Institute as the leading agricultural research centre of the Commonwealth.

Image: SLSA B 61585 1945

Riddoch, George 1842 - 1919

Pastoralist. Through astute buying, by 1891 and with his brother John, held the freehold to over 75,000 acres of the South East; it extended to the Coonawarra Fruit Colony in the north, Glencoe in the west and almost to Mount Gambier in the south. As flock-masters of merinos and cross-breds, which suited the wet South-East, and as large-scale experimental farmers and graziers, George and John were staunch members of the South Australian Pastoralists' Union. Both brothers sat in the South Australian parliament.

Image: SLSA PRG23-6-8-12 1902

Riddoch, John 1827 - 1901

Pastoralist. Through astute buying, by 1891 and with his brother George, held the freehold to over 75,000 acres of the South East; it extended to the Coonawarra Fruit Colony (which John founded in 1891) in the north, Glencoe in the west and almost to Mount Gambier in the south. As flock-masters of merinos and cross-breds, which suited the wet South-East, and as large-scale experimental farmers and graziers, John and George were staunch members of the South Australian Pastoralists' Union. Both brothers sat in the South Australian parliament.

Image: SLSA B9866 1869

Ridley, John 1806 - 1887

Miller, inventor and preacher. Ridley arrived in South Australia in 1839 took over the flour-mill of the South Australian Co. and began growing wheat on land he bought at Hindmarsh. Over 2 years he developed, improved and manufactured a grain harvesting machine and within five years over fifty were operating in the province and others had been exported. He was the first practical producer of such a machine. In 1844 he was awarded a special prize by the Agricultural and Horticultural Society and in 1858 he was thanked by the South Australian parliament for a service that had helped to make possible the vast increase of wheat-growing in the province.

Image: SLSA B 47769/2H

Rowell, James 1851 - 1940

Soldier, orchardist and politician. Although he had a distinguished military career, Rowell's made himself highly skilled in the horticultural field and did much to advance the interests of the primary producer in South Australia. He served on the South Australian Board of Agriculture and for nearly half a century was a councillor of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia and for some years its president. He also served as a member of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Board.

Image: SLSA PRG280-1-13-232 1914

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Salter, Edward 1837 - 1913

Vigneron. Edward was instrumental in developing Saltram wines near Angaston, which he promoted around Australia. W. Salter & Son were among the South Australian exhibitors who won a medal at the 1876 Philadelphia International Exhibition. In 1888 Edward was first chairman of the Nuriootpa District Agricultural Bureau and he became a member of the South Australian Vinegrowers' Association.

Image: SLSA PRG1642-25-99 1901

Salter, William 1804 - 1871

Vigneron. William Salter had land near Angaston, he named Mamre Brook, and moved there in 1844. First interested in cattle, he prospered when he turned to sheep. In 1859, with his son Edward, he formed W. Salter & Son and started a vineyard, planting shiraz vines. The vineyard prospered mainly under the direction of his son Edward while William continued his interests in sheep and cattle.

Image: Salter Family

Sandford, Sir James Wallace 1879 - 1958

Merchant and politician. Attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, before studying at the University of London. He joined his father's company, AW Sandford & Co., which were influential general merchants, food processors and engineers, having pioneered intercolonial markets for dairy and other farm produce. In 1911, James took control of the company, of which he was chairman and managing director for the rest of his life. It specialised in importing agricultural machinery and general merchandise from Britain. As a member of the Legislative Council, he advocated reciprocity of trade within the British Empire and stressed the interdependence of industry and primary producers.

Image: SLSA BRG386-19 1950

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