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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.

C

Collins, Arthur Leonard (Art) 1896 - 1969

Collins was born and grew up at Mt Bryan and developed a strain of sheep that combined size and early maturity with a superior wool quality and density—the Collinsville. The Collinsville property comprised over 200,000 acres (80,972 ha) and emerged as a major merino stud, selling its bloodlines to pastoralists in all Australian States.

Image: SLSA B 68534 1934

Collins, John 1859 - 1932

John Collins grew up on a pastoral property near Mt Bryan and in young adulthood purchased land to the east of Mt Bryan and established Collinsville Station. Here he built up a flock of commercial Merino sheep of exceptional size and quality. He was well known throughout the country and overseas.

Copley, William 1845 - 1925

Farmer and politician. William Copley had a long parliamentary career, including Minister of Crown Lands (19/8/1890 to 6/1/1892), Minister of Agriculture and Education (15/10/1892 to 6/1/1893), and participated in a wide array of political organisations. The town of Copley is named in his honour.

Image: SLSA Image B27296 1892

Cotton, Geoffrey Winston 1940 - 2006

Geoff Cotton was an apiarist who devoted a significant amount of time to assisting others in the industry. He was a master beekeeper and a great supporter for strong disease control policies to protect the industry. He was an active member of the SA Apiarists Association.

Image: The Advertiser

Cowan, Sir John 1866 - 1953

Grazier and politician. John Cowan had a lengthy political career including two terms as Minister for Agriculture between 14111923 to 1641924 and 841927 and 1741930. He was an advocate for building the locks on the River Murray and introduced the Dairy Industry Act 1928 and the Dried Fruits Act 1924.

Image: SLSA Image B4538 1935

Crocker, Robert Langdon 1914 - 1963

Professor of Botany. Robert Crocker joined the Division of Soils at CSIR in 1936, then transferred to the Agronomy Department at Waite Institute. He participated in the first expedition to cross the Simpson Desert in 1939. With a focus on the science of soils and plant ecology, he held positions at Cambridge and the University of California, Berkley, and the latter part of his career was spent in the Botany Department of the University of Sydney.

Image: SLSA Image B20349 Simpson Desert Expedition 1939.

Cudmore, Daniel Henry (Dan) 1844 - 1913

Pastoralist, who with his brothers James, developed a series of large grazing leases, but their legacy was the improvements they effected on their Yongala and Riverland leaseholds which paved the way for the later success of numerous small-holders.

Image: SLSA Image B72282 1870

Cudmore, Daniel Michael 1811 - 1891

Grazier. Farmed at Modbury but later sold it to take up a pastoral lease at Yongala. In the 1850s he also leased Pinda, Beautiful Valley and Paringa Stations.

Image: SLSA Image B30912 1865

Cudmore, James Francis 1837 - 1912

Pastoralist, who with his brother Dan, developed a series of large grazing leases, but their legacy was the improvements they effected on their Yongala and Riverland leaseholds which paved the way for the later success of numerous small-holders.

Image: https://www.geni.com/people/James-Cudmore/6000000034437160612

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Darling, John 1831 - 1905

Merchant and grain exporter. Purchased Bowen's grain and flour trading business in Adelaide, exporting to Victoria. After Victoria became self sufficient in grain, he focussed on exporting grain and flour to London and European ports. By 1890 he owned interests in flour milling and shipping and had become the largest shipper of wheat from Australia. Through the 1870s and 1880s, he represented various seats in the Legislative Council.

Image: SLSA Image B48261 1885

Darling, John 1852 - 1914

Merchant and politician. He took over management of his father's grain business in 1897 and expanded Australian exports. Active in numerous industry organisations, John Darling served in the SA Parliament from 1896 to 1905, and was a director of BHP and chairman of its board from 1907 until his death in 1914.

Image: SLSA Image PRG280-1-14-39 1910

Davenport, Sir Samuel 1818 - 1906

Landowner and parliamentarian. Samuel Davenport owned and managed a series of farming properties but was best known as an ardent promoter of new agricultural enterprises in South Australia, and published several pamphlets dealing with cultivation of olives and manufacture of olive oil, silk and tobacco. With his great interest in new industries he was elected president of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. In 1851, he represented the colony as executive commissioner at the Great Exhibition in London, followed by involvement in a series of national and international exhibitions over the next 37 years. He was knighted in 1884.

Image: SLSA Image B56222

Davidson, Russell 1940 - 2022

Russell Davidson was a leader of Poll Merino sheep, being a significant breeder at Gulnare for flocks across Australia and overseas. He was a judge of sheep at agricultural shows and overseas across Australia.

Image: The Advertiser

Day, Allen Campbell (Cam) 1936 - 2006

Cam Day was a successful sheep and beef cattle breeder near Bordertown. He was a member of the Agricultural Bureau for 50 years and a judge of sheep and cattle at agricultural shows in every State.

Image: The Advertiser

DeVito, Cosmo John 1943 - 2006

Cosy DeVito had a successful trucking business in Waikerie and this he combined with his fruit orchards and vineyards, the 2 business being complimentary.

Image: The Advertiser

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