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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.

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Riddoch, George 1842 - 1919

Pastoralist. Through astute buying, by 1891 and with his brother John, held the freehold to over 75,000 acres of the South East; it extended to the Coonawarra Fruit Colony in the north, Glencoe in the west and almost to Mount Gambier in the south. As flock-masters of merinos and cross-breds, which suited the wet South-East, and as large-scale experimental farmers and graziers, George and John were staunch members of the South Australian Pastoralists' Union. Both brothers sat in the South Australian parliament.

Image: SLSA PRG23-6-8-12 1902

Riddoch, John 1827 - 1901

Pastoralist. Through astute buying, by 1891 and with his brother George, held the freehold to over 75,000 acres of the South East; it extended to the Coonawarra Fruit Colony (which John founded in 1891) in the north, Glencoe in the west and almost to Mount Gambier in the south. As flock-masters of merinos and cross-breds, which suited the wet South-East, and as large-scale experimental farmers and graziers, John and George were staunch members of the South Australian Pastoralists' Union. Both brothers sat in the South Australian parliament.

Image: SLSA B9866 1869

Ridley, John 1806 - 1887

Miller, inventor and preacher. Ridley arrived in South Australia in 1839 took over the flour-mill of the South Australian Co. and began growing wheat on land he bought at Hindmarsh. Over 2 years he developed, improved and manufactured a grain harvesting machine and within five years over fifty were operating in the province and others had been exported. He was the first practical producer of such a machine. In 1844 he was awarded a special prize by the Agricultural and Horticultural Society and in 1858 he was thanked by the South Australian parliament for a service that had helped to make possible the vast increase of wheat-growing in the province.

Image: SLSA B 47769/2H

Rowell, James 1851 - 1940

Soldier, orchardist and politician. Although he had a distinguished military career, Rowell's made himself highly skilled in the horticultural field and did much to advance the interests of the primary producer in South Australia. He served on the South Australian Board of Agriculture and for nearly half a century was a councillor of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia and for some years its president. He also served as a member of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Board.

Image: SLSA PRG280-1-13-232 1914

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Salter, Edward 1837 - 1913

Vigneron. Edward was instrumental in developing Saltram wines near Angaston, which he promoted around Australia. W. Salter & Son were among the South Australian exhibitors who won a medal at the 1876 Philadelphia International Exhibition. In 1888 Edward was first chairman of the Nuriootpa District Agricultural Bureau and he became a member of the South Australian Vinegrowers' Association.

Image: SLSA PRG1642-25-99 1901

Salter, William 1804 - 1871

Vigneron. William Salter had land near Angaston, he named Mamre Brook, and moved there in 1844. First interested in cattle, he prospered when he turned to sheep. In 1859, with his son Edward, he formed W. Salter & Son and started a vineyard, planting shiraz vines. The vineyard prospered mainly under the direction of his son Edward while William continued his interests in sheep and cattle.

Image: Salter Family

Sandford, Sir James Wallace 1879 - 1958

Merchant and politician. Attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, before studying at the University of London. He joined his father's company, AW Sandford & Co., which were influential general merchants, food processors and engineers, having pioneered intercolonial markets for dairy and other farm produce. In 1911, James took control of the company, of which he was chairman and managing director for the rest of his life. It specialised in importing agricultural machinery and general merchandise from Britain. As a member of the Legislative Council, he advocated reciprocity of trade within the British Empire and stressed the interdependence of industry and primary producers.

Image: SLSA BRG386-19 1950

Schomburgk, Richard Moritz 1811 - 1891

Botanist, horticulturist and Director of Botanic Gardens. Schomburgk came to South Australia in 1849 and moved to north of Gawler where he planted a vineyard. By 1862 he had about five acres (2 ha) of verdelho and mataro grapevines from which he made a small quantity of wine, and also grew table grapes. In 1865 Schomburgk was appointed curator of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. He distributed plants and trees to public bodies and was responsible for the planting of Wellington Square, North Terrace, the Government House gardens, Marble Hill and the government farm at Belair. He spoke and wrote widely on the importance of forests for their effect on climate as well as for their economic value. His work on the introduction and acclimatization of plants and seeds of economic importance was amongst his most important contributions to the colony. His introduction of three new wheat strains, a phylloxera-resistant vine and new grasses that were drought tolerant were important benefits for farmers.

Image: SLSA B22973 1865

Seppelt, Oscar Benno 1873 - 1963

Winemaker and viticulturist. In 1902 Oscar took charge of operations at Seppeltsfield and his brothers managed branches in other States. The enterprise expanded rapidly. From 1914, Seppelt bought a number of local and interstate wineries and in 1916 he became managing director. While directing these developments, Seppelt retained his interest in the practical and scientific aspects of production. He designed and patented a wine-pasteurizer which began to be manufactured for sale in 1927. Seppelt was a member and chairman of the Federal Viticultural Council of Australia and chairman of the Wholesale Winemakers' and Brandy Distillers' Association. He supported the introduction of a diploma course in oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1936.

Image: seppeltsfield.blogspot.com

Seppelt, Joseph Ernst 1813 - 1868

Vigneron. Joseph Ernst Seppelt arrived in Adelaide in 1850 and purchased 158 acres of land in the Barossa Valley in 1852. He named the property Seppeltsfield and later made his first wine in his wife's dairy. The business expanded rapidly and Seppelt concentrated on the production of table wines, liqueurs and cordials. Seppelt did not live long enough to see the business prosper, as he died at Seppeltsfield in 1868.

Image: Image SLSA B 54745

Shearer, David 1850 - 1936

Agricultural machinery manufacturer and inventor. With brother John established a significant business supporting farmers with tough, durable equipment including grubbing machines, fixed ploughs, scarifiers, harrows, strippers and tillage implements. By 1902 a lighter, stronger stripper, with a wider cut, and farm wagons were being manufactured in Mannum and Adelaide.

Image: https://www.google.com.au/

Shearer, John 1845 - 1932

Agricultural machinery manufacturer and inventor. With brother David established a significant business supporting farmers with tough, durable equipment including grubbing machines, fixed ploughs, scarifiers, harrows, strippers and tillage implements. John invented wrought-steel ploughshares, which were patented throughout Australasia; these were an improvement on the brittle cast-iron shares in general use. By 1902 a lighter, stronger stripper, with a wider cut, and farm wagons were being manufactured in Mannum and Adelaide.

Image: trove.nla.gov.au: News Monday 31 January 1927 p 6

Sluczanowski, Philip 1952 - 1994

Mathematician and modeller. Philip was employed as a senior research officer at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Department of Fisheries from 1979), working on the population dynamics where he inventively applied optimal control theory to generate models of fisheries. He was also an early advocate of integrating fisheries data with computer-based interactive graphics packages. His modelling tools continue to be used for teaching fisheries population dynamics in universities around the world.

Image: SARDI

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.

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