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1905–1925

Highlights

Agricultural Bureaux - Department of Agriculture experimental work

  • 1907: A Department of Agriculture and Intelligence created. Intelligence was lost in 1908
  • 1909: Experimental centres were established on farms at Hammond, Oladdie, Dawson and Carrieton
  • 1911: Parafield Poultry Station established
  • 1914: Experimental work concentrated at Parafield (poultry), Turretfield (seed wheat, kerosene tractor) Hackney and Blackwood (horticulture), Kybybolite and Veitch (agriculture), Minnipa (wheat, olives)
  • The Agricultural Bureau Branches also sponsored on-farm trials

Peter Waite's gifts

  • 1914: Peter Waite arranged to hand over his house and 153 acres of land at Urrbrae to the University of Adelaide
  • 1915: Peter Waite purchased Claremont Estate (53 acres) and Netherby Estate (112 acres) and added them to the original gift.

'My hope is that a Chair of Agriculture may be established to conduct scientific research work and ….. teach agricultural students' — Peter Waite

The Waite Agricultural Research Institute

  • 1924: The first appointments were made: AEV Richardson (Director),  HC Trumble (Agronomist), JA Prescott (Soil Science), J Davidson (Entomology). The Departments of Agronomy, Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology were established. The University was to provide services to the Department of Agriculture in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Systematic Botany.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

The CSIR (CSIRO from 1949) established in 1924, set up its soil science laboratories at the Waite Institute. James Prescott became Chief of Division of Soils (joint appointment with the University of Adelaide).

CSIRO Soils, CSIRO Nutritional Biochemistry (Kintore Avenue, Adelaide) and the University of Adelaide did major trace element/ micronutrient research. Colin Donald (U of A) and David Riceman (CSIR) made the first discovery of a trace element deficiency in Australia. One outcome of this research was the development of the Ninety-mile Desert by the AMP Society as Coonalpyn Downs.

Main aspects of the era

  • Experimental farms created
  • Superphosphate adopted widely
  • Settlement of Mallee lands
  • Soldier settlement blocks
  • Over-close settlement
  • Irrigated horticulture
  • Waite Institute began
  • Research and development contracts
  • Herd recording introduced to dairy industry
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