1. Home »
  2. People & achievements »
  3. Prominent People (A-Z)

Prominent People

Department:

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.

S

Smith, Robert Barr 1824 - 1915

Businessman and philanthropist. Thomas Elder (the visionary), and Robert Barr Smith (the business genius) founded Elder Smith & Co. as partners. From a firmly established mercantile and shipping base the company expanded into pastoral and mining exploration. They opened up vast tracts of agricultural land and set up a trading network of stock and station agencies supplying goods and services to developing communities, implements and equipment for pastoralists and miners, wool stores, shipping facilities and, when needed, financial assistance.

Image: SLSA B59765 1908

Smith, Sir Tom Elder Barr 1904 - 1968

Pastoralist and company director. Involved in the family's pastoral concerns, chaired the Mutooroo, Beltana and Milo pastoral companies and chaired the livestock section of the Food for Britain appeal.

Smith, Clarence Herbert 1855 - 1901

Reputed to have been the principle inventor of the stump-jump plough with his brother Richard. In 1880 Clarence established an agricultural machinery works at Ardrossan.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Herbert_Smith

Smith, Samuel 1812 - 1889

Vigneron. Samuel Smith, the founder of Yalumba Wines, arrived at Port Adelaide in 1847 and moved to Angaston in 1849, where he purchased 30 acres and established a vineyard and orchard. He was soon producing wine from his own grapes and from some bought from his neighbours. His wines were soon gaining recognition and his vineyards were expanded considerably. Samuel Smith died at Angaston in 1889.

Image: SLSA PRG 1642/25/118

Smith, Richard Bowyer (1837–1919, Richard Bowyer 1837 - 1919

Blacksmith & inventor stump-jump plough. Developed the stone- and stump-jumping plough in 1876 which went on to 'cause a complete revolution in tilling uncleared land' making it possible to sow grain without the necessity of removing all of the tree stumps.

Image: SLSA SRG112-9-10 1908

Stott, Tom Cleave 1899 - 1976

Wheat-farmer and politician. Tom Stott farmed in the Murray Mallee and quickly foresaw the need for producers to organise themselves into pressure groups. Largely due to his efforts, the Farmers Protection Association (forerunner of the United Farmers and Graziers of South Australia) was formed in 1929 and the Australian Wheatgrowers' Federation in 1931 with Stott as secretary of both for many years. He sat in Parliament for an unbroken thirty-seven years advocating for farmers.

Image: State Library Victoria H38849/4386

Strangways, Henry Bull Templar 1832 - 1920

Lawyer and politician. Introduced land reform of crown lands after much conflict with pastoralists. This provided for the creation of agricultural areas and credit for land purchases.

Image: SLSA B11138 1875

W

Waite, Peter 1834 - 1922

Pastoralist and benefactor. Leader in the improvement and management of semi-arid salt bush country and donated his Urrbrae property to the University of Adelaide for agricultural studies (the Waite Agricultural Research Institute) and to the South Australian government for an agricultural high school.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Waite

Warnes, Mary Jane 1877 - 1959

Founder of SA Country Women’s Association Mary Warnes had the vision and the courage to pioneer the concept in South Australia by forming at Burra the first branch of what was to become the Country Women’s Association of South Australia. She was the founding President of this branch and from 1929 the state President. For twelve years she held that office, travelling widely within South Australia and far beyond and was appointed MBE in recognition of her work.

Image: http://www.burrasa.info/pages/cwa.html

Warren, John Roger Hogarth 1905 - 1960

Winemaker. Hardy's chief winemaker. Noted for his table wine blends, which he produced in large quantities, helping to change Australian drinking habits in the 1950s. Also an expert spirit maker.

Warren, John 1830 - 1914

Pastoralist and politician. A most successful stockbreeder and pastoralist, he did much to open up the pastoral country and was a proponent in understanding its requirements and the development of its resources.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/

Williams, Thomas ? - 1900

Pastoralist. Farmer/manager at Moorak Estate near Mt. Gambier. Carried out many interesting experiments in grain, grass, and root growing, and was one of the pioneers in reclaiming the swamp land in the Hundred of Benara.

Image: SLSA B 8235/1/26V

Top of page