1946–1965

Highlights

Further development at Urrbrae

• 1955: Australian Wine Research Institute established
• 1958: CSIRO Soils moved into new facilities, Waite Road. Increased interest in soil microbiology, root diseases
• 1963: CSIRO Division of Horticulture (major viticulture emphasis – breeding, mechanical harvesting)(Other CSIRO Divisions: Mathematical Statistics [Cornish – Wheat Yields]; Water Resources [Alison – Groundwater Studies])

Central laboratories for Department of Agriculture

• 1957: Allan Callaghan suggested Bedford Park to Tom Playford (unsuccessful as later became Flinders University)
• 1958: Northfield Mental Hospital Farm secured leading to the Northfield Laboratories and Research Centre (Soil science, legume breeding, cereal varietal testing, weed science, entomology, dairy technology; dairy research; Northfield Horticulture Unit; Northfield Pig Research Unit; Artificial Breeding Board)
• 1960: Parafield Poultry Centre upgraded

Main aspects of the era

• Rural reconstruction
• Wool boom
• Soldier settlement schemes
  • Irrigated horticulture - Loxton
  • Dryland - Kangaroo Island, South East
• Allocating land
• Private sector investment in settlement
  • Nintey-Mile Desert Scheme
• Micronutrient research - the basis of land settlement
• Legume agriculture-dryland farming
• Role of private sector consultants
• Widespread mechanisation of all agriculture
• Impact of university and Roseworthy graduates
• Quarantine issues
  • Fruit fly
  • Plague locusts
  • Weeds
• Automation begins to supersede manual systems
• Changed relationship with media, impact of television