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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

McEwin, Sir Alexander Lyell 1897 - 1988

Farmer and politician. As a farmer McEwin held leadership positions in the Blyth branch of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia, and in 1930-41 was a member (chairman 1935-37) of the State’s Advisory Board of Agriculture. Early in the 1930s he sat on State and Federal government advisory committees dealing with matters of agricultural settlement, debt adjustment and meat export. He was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council and remained in parliament for over forty years.

Image: SLSA B10080 1939

McGregor AO, Alan Gordon 1936 - 2005

Alan McGregor was a successful businessman who had numerous pastoral interests, had good knowledge of the agricultural industry and was a director of S Kidman & Co. He was also Chairman of Intercast & Forge P/L, the Australian Wool Testing Authority.

Image: The Advertiser

McInnes OAM, Peter Aloysisus 1936 - 2014

Peter McInnes was a leader in animal nutrition and his work took him all over Australia and the world. He worked for aid agencies and was involved in research funding organisations. He finally settled at Willunga, running a small herd of cattle.

Image: The Advertiser

McIntosh, Samuel 1867 - 1939

Irrigation administrator and horticulturist. He worked on his father's mixed farm at Tickera, where he saw at first hand the benefits of irrigation from the Beetaloo reticulation system. After working in various positions in irrigation in the Riverland McIntosh became chairman of government irrigation boards and manager of the Murray Bridge experimental farm. In January 1910 he inaugurated the Government Irrigation Department and was appointed director of irrigation. During and after World War 1, McIntosh was involved in the State government's plans to establish returned soldiers on blocks along the Murray, using his knowledge of river conditions, soil and suitable crop types.

Image: SLSA PRG 16/15/3/387

Melrose, George Thorburn 1855 - 1924

Pastoralist and Shakespearean scholar. Owned and managed Merino sheep stud Rosebank at Mt Pleasant. As the result of travel he made inquiries into the sheep breeding industry of various countries, and gave his fellow pastoralists the benefit of all the knowledge he gained. He was a skilful judge of sheep and president of the Mt. Pleasant Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He was a director of Elder, Smith and Co. from 1898 until 1901, during which period his advice on pastoral matters was of great service to the company.

Image: Pastoral Pioneers of South Australia

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

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, 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

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

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O'Loughlin, Laurence Theodore 1854 - 1927

Farmer and politician. O'Loughlin represented farmers in the House of Assembly for the northern constituencies of Frome and then Burra Burra. He was commissioner of crown lands and held various other portfolios including agriculture. But it was in his administration of land policy that O'Loughlin was most notable. He pressed for a progressive land tax to promote closer settlement but at the same time fostered the development of less fertile but arable areas such as Eyre Peninsula and the Murray Mallee region. After standing as a candidate of the Farmers and Settlers' Association in 1918, he lost his seat and next year became chairman of the Wheat Board.

Image: Cyclopedia of South Australia

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Penfold, Mary 1816 - 1895

Winemaker. Mary Penfold, with her husband Dr Christopher Penfold, arrived in Adelaide in 1844 and purchased the Magill estate and Grange cottage. It was here that Mary planted and tended the vines. It was Mary’s practical approach to wine production that allowed Mary to make her first commercial wine in the 1850s and develop the business to be a major exporter of wine to the other colonies and overseas. Mary died in December 1895.

Image: SLSA b20490410

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