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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.

C

Cole, Philip James 1949 - 2025

Phil established a national and international reputation as a scientist specialising in irrigation and salinity. Upon graduating from University of Adelaide in 1970, he was appointed to Loxton to lead the changes in irrigation and salinity management practices. Phil established strong collaborative arrangements with leading scientists in Israel, United States and Holland.

Image: Cole Family

Coleman, Frederick 1865 - 1951

Wheat farmer. Frederick Coleman was an early adopter of superphosphate, seed drills, new wheat varieties, phalaris and sub clovers. He was a member of the SA Advisory Board of Agriculture (two terms as chairman) and served on the Roseworthy Agricultural College council.

Image: NLA N 994.2 UNI

Collins, Arthur Leonard (Art) 1896 - 1969

Collins was born and grew up at Mt Bryan and developed a strain of sheep that combined size and early maturity with a superior wool quality and density—the Collinsville. The Collinsville property comprised over 200,000 acres (80,972 ha) and emerged as a major merino stud, selling its bloodlines to pastoralists in all Australian States.

Image: SLSA B 68534 1934

Collins, John 1859 - 1932

John Collins grew up on a pastoral property near Mt Bryan and in young adulthood purchased land to the east of Mt Bryan and established Collinsville Station. Here he built up a flock of commercial Merino sheep of exceptional size and quality. He was well known throughout the country and overseas.

Copley, William 1845 - 1925

Farmer and politician. William Copley had a long parliamentary career, including Minister of Crown Lands (19/8/1890 to 6/1/1892), Minister of Agriculture and Education (15/10/1892 to 6/1/1893), and participated in a wide array of political organisations. The town of Copley is named in his honour.

Image: SLSA Image B27296 1892

Cottle, Gregory Lister 1956 - 2014

Greg Cottle studied at Roseworthy Agricultural College and gained his teaching degree becoming a long standing agriculture and science teacher at Waikerie High School. His innovations in the course enthused many of his students to pursue agriculture as a career.

Image: The Advertiser

Cotton, Geoffrey Winston 1940 - 2006

Geoff Cotton was an apiarist who devoted a significant amount of time to assisting others in the industry. He was a master beekeeper and a great supporter for strong disease control policies to protect the industry. He was an active member of the SA Apiarists Association.

Image: The Advertiser

Cowan, Sir John 1866 - 1953

Grazier and politician. John Cowan had a lengthy political career including two terms as Minister for Agriculture between 14111923 to 1641924 and 841927 and 1741930. He was an advocate for building the locks on the River Murray and introduced the Dairy Industry Act 1928 and the Dried Fruits Act 1924.

Image: SLSA Image B4538 1935

Crawford, Dr Eric 1928 - 2021

Eric was an internationally recognised pasture scientist. Graduating from Urrbrae Agricultural High School and Roseworthy Agricultural college he quickly established himself as a specialist in legumes in low rainfall climates. In the mid 1950s Eric commence the collection and evaluation of pasture species at Parafield, collecting over 27 000 items from 60 countries during his working career. He was well known in most of the 60 countries for his work in collecting evaluating and conserving this important genetic material.

Image: PIRSA Ag History

Crocker, Robert Langdon 1914 - 1963

Professor of Botany. Robert Crocker joined the Division of Soils at CSIR in 1936, then transferred to the Agronomy Department at Waite Institute. He participated in the first expedition to cross the Simpson Desert in 1939. With a focus on the science of soils and plant ecology, he held positions at Cambridge and the University of California, Berkley, and the latter part of his career was spent in the Botany Department of the University of Sydney.

Image: SLSA Image B20349 Simpson Desert Expedition 1939.

Cudmore, Daniel Henry (Dan) 1844 - 1913

Pastoralist, who with his brothers James, developed a series of large grazing leases, but their legacy was the improvements they effected on their Yongala and Riverland leaseholds which paved the way for the later success of numerous small-holders.

Image: SLSA Image B72282 1870

Cudmore, Daniel Michael 1811 - 1891

Grazier. Farmed at Modbury but later sold it to take up a pastoral lease at Yongala. In the 1850s he also leased Pinda, Beautiful Valley and Paringa Stations.

Image: SLSA Image B30912 1865

Cudmore, James Francis 1837 - 1912

Pastoralist, who with his brother Dan, developed a series of large grazing leases, but their legacy was the improvements they effected on their Yongala and Riverland leaseholds which paved the way for the later success of numerous small-holders.

Image: https://www.geni.com/people/James-Cudmore/6000000034437160612

Custance, John Daniel 1842 - 1923

Professor of Agriculture. In June 1881 John Custance was recruited from England and appointed as the Professor of Agriculture in the SA Department of Lands. He played a key role in the establishment of Roseworthy Agricultural College, which opened in February 1885. Custance developed the lecture program for students, and interacted widely with the farming community introducing the use of superphosphate to Australian farmers; although trials amply demonstrated his ideas on super, its use was slow to gain acceptance. Following a dispute with the Secretary of the Dept. of Lands in December 1886, he was suspended and returned to England. In 1906, Custance returned to SA managing properties at Georgetown and Angaston.

Image: http://pir.sa.gov.au/aghistory

D

Darling, John 1831 - 1905

Merchant and grain exporter. Purchased Bowen's grain and flour trading business in Adelaide, exporting to Victoria. After Victoria became self sufficient in grain, he focussed on exporting grain and flour to London and European ports. By 1890 he owned interests in flour milling and shipping and had become the largest shipper of wheat from Australia. Through the 1870s and 1880s, he represented various seats in the Legislative Council.

Image: SLSA Image B48261 1885

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