View source for Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia

{{Short description|Association in South Australia, Australia}}
[[File:Plaque for Champion Wheat Crop(GN12488).jpg|thumb|Plaque for Champion Wheat Crop, ca. 1928]]
The '''Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia''' was founded in November 1839 as the '''South Australian Agricultural Society''' with the aim of promoting primary industries in the Colony. The Society and its functions were patterned on similar organisations in England,<ref name=first>{{cite news  |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46092661 |title=The First Shows in Adelaide |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=21 June 1887 |accessdate=9 November 2012 |page=9 Supplement: Jubilee Supplement to the South Australia Register  |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and in its successive incarnations, the organisation has continued to pursue this aim (in the State) to the current day.
==History==
===Foundation===
The South Australian Agricultural Society was founded as the result of a public meeting held on 28 October 1839.
The original Constitution provided for a President, four Vice-Presidents, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and a committee of 18 citizens selected by a formula intended to give representation to the range of members' interests and locations, one-third of whom were to retire annually by rotation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71685627 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=[[The Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 November 1839 |accessdate=19 December 2012 |page=1 Supplement: Supplement to the Southern Australian |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> At some later stage, the committee increased to 40.<!-- How do you divide 40 by 3 and not have a Special General Meeting? -->
;The initial appointees were:
{|
|President:
|colspan=6| [[David McLaren (Colonial Manager)|David McLaren]]
|-
|Vice-Presidents:
|colspan=6|[[Charles Sturt]], [[John Barton Hack]], [[J. H. Fisher]] and [[John Morphett]]
|-
|Hon. Secretary:
|colspan=6| Captain Charles Berkeley
|-
|Hon. Treasurer:
|colspan=6| J. A. Jackson <!--not A. J. Jackson-->
|- valign=top
|Committee:
| <!-- 3 columns of 6 people-per-column = 18 – So how come there are 19 people in the list?? -->
<!-- [[John Chambers (Australian pastoralist)|John Chambers]] not ref cited-->
* [[Robert Cock]]
* [[William Giles (colonial manager)|William Giles sen.]]
* [[Edward Burton Gleeson|E. B. Gleeson]]
* Stephen Hack
* [[John Hallett (South Australian politician)|John Hallett]]
* J. Keynes
|
* John Knott
* R. R. Leake
* D. McFarlane
* [[Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran|T. S. O'Halloran]]
* [[William Pinkerton]]
* [[W. B. Randell]]
|
* Ed Rowlands <!--not Rolands -->
* John Rogers
* [[Samuel Stephens (Colonial Manager)|S. Stephens]]
* [[George Stevenson (editor)|George Stevenson]]
* [[T. B. Strangways]]
* [[Thomas Williams (South Australian politician)|Thomas Williams]]
|}
[[Governor Gawler]] accepted nomination as Patron.
On 23 November a group, discontented with the way membership of the Society had dropped away, resolved to re-inaugurate the Society as though it no longer existed. They advertised for a public meeting to be held on 6 December 1840 at Fordham's Hotel, conducted by a steering committee consisting of:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620393 |title=Agricultural Society |newspaper=[[The Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=24 November 1840 |accessdate=12 January 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
{|
|- valign=top
|
*David McLaren (Chairman)
*Charles Berkeley (Hon. Sec.)
*[[Frewville, South Australia#James Frew|James Frew]]
|
*John Hallett
*John Morphett
*William Pinkerton
|
*George Stevenson
*Charles Sturt
*H. Watson
|
*[[William Smallpeice Whitington|W. S. Whitington]]
*T. Williams of Hermitage
|}
===Agricultural and Horticultural Society===
On 24 January 1842 a meeting was held at the Mayor ([[Thomas Wilson (mayor)|Thomas Wilson]])'s chambers to form the South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27443126 |title=Agricultural and Horticultural Society |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=29 January 1842 |accessdate=19 December 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
;Office holders elected were:
{|
|Patron:
|colspan=6| His Excellency the Governor ([[George Edward Grey]]).
|-
|Hon. Secretary:
|colspan=6| Henry Watson, Esq.
|-
|Hon. Treasurer:
|colspan=6| J. A. Jackson
|- valign=top
|Committee:
| <!-- 3 columns of 2 or 3 people -->
*Thomas Wilson
*Charles Sturt
*[[Abraham Hopkins Davis|A. H. Davis]]
|
*D. McFarlane
*Angus McLaine
*[[Jacob Hagen]]
|
*George Stevenson
*Thomas Williams, of Hermitage.
|}
===Turmoil===
In February 1843 there was a popular feeling that the Society had been negligent in preparing for the Autumn Show. [[J. Bentham Neales]] offered the use of his auction yard as the venue, perhaps to stimulate some activity.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71616294 |title=Local News |newspaper=[[The Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=24 February 1843 |accessdate=27 January 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> (It was held, on 17 March, but only made possible by donations solicited by John Morphett from wealthy friends, as the Society had no funds.)
In August 1843 James Frew, president of the Ploughing Match Society met with others to change the name of his society to the  South Australian Agricultural Society (the original title of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society), and possibly to conduct shows of animals and produce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71617798 |title=Local News |newspaper=[[Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=29 August 1843 |accessdate=27 January 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Under that name, the society conducted ploughing matches on 1 September 1843<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27445406 |title=Ploughing Match at Thebarton |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=2 September 1843 |accessdate=27 January 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The two organizations differed in their memberships: the S.A.A.& H.S. was largely composed of men of wealth and influence while the Ploughing Match Society/S.A.A.S. was more oriented to the practical farmer. Among their members were:
{|
|-valign=top
|
*James Frew (1804&ndash;1878) (president)
*John Wotherspoon (1802&ndash;1850)(secretary)
*Thomas Kirkpatrick Auld (treasurer)
*Auld (jun.)
*Giles<!--perhaps nurseryman Charles Giles (died February 1887) whose son Charles jun. and J. F. Pascoe took over his garden-->
|
*Benjamin Greig
*John Harkness
*Hogarth
*Lambert
*McEwen
|
*Masters
*Pinkerton
*W. Smillie
*E. Stirling
*Stocks
|
*Thomson
*Thornber
|}
A meeting was called by officials of the S.A.A.& H.S. for Saturday 27 April 1844 to resolve the situation that, even if the two bodies could coexist, the similarity of their titles would be confusing to the public.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27447053 |title=The Agricultural and Horticultural Society |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=1 May 1844 |accessdate=19 December 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The Annual General Meeting of the Agricultural Society at Payne's Hotel on 7 May 1844 commenced with the chairman Mr Frew detailing activities of the previous year – (besides the ploughing match on 1 September, a Cattle Show on 20 October and exhibition of produce on 14 February) and looked forward to an Agricultural Show in September, in competition with that of the R.A.& H.S. Conceding that unification was necessary, he argued that the only way it could occur was by members of the other Society changing sides. The tone of the meeting changed however when Mr Lambert and Mr Harkness spoke in favour of union, with the proviso that Mr. Wotherspoon should by the Secretary of the unified Society.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71629027 |title=Annual Meeting of the South Australian Agricultural Society |newspaper=[[The Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=10 May 1844 |accessdate=27 January 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
===Royal Patronage===
In April 1868, following the highly successful Grand Exhibition, at which he was guest of honour, the [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Duke of Edinburgh]] accepted the role of Patron of the Society, which then became the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia.
==Office holders==
===Presidents===
{{Plainlist|
*1839 [[David McLaren (Colonial Manager)|David McLaren]]
*1840 [[George Gawler]]
*1841 [[George Grey]]
*1846 [[Frederick Holt Robe]]
*1849 [[Henry Edward Fox Young]]
*1854 position dropped }}
===Chairmen and Presidents===
:'''The title "Chairman" changed to "President" with the 1859 election.'''
{|
|-valign=top
|{{plainlist|
*1845 [[John Morphett]]
*1847 [[Edward Stephens (Australian settler)|Edward Stephens]]
*1848 [[Charles Hervey Bagot]]
*1849 [[William Wyatt (settler)|William Wyatt]]
*1850 [[Abraham Hopkins Davis]]
*1852 [[John Baker (Australian politician)|John Baker]]
*1858 [[John Hart (South Australian colonist)|John Hart]]
*1859 [[George Strickland Kingston]] }}
|{{plainlist|
*1860 [[William Milne (politician)|William Milne]]
*1861 [[Edward William Andrews]]
*1862 [[George McEwin]]
*1863 [[George Charles Hawker]]
*1864 [[John Baker (Australian politician)|John Baker]]
*1866 [[Alexander Borthwick Murray]]
*1867 [[Arthur Blyth]]
*1868 [[John Baker (Australian politician)|John Baker]] }}
|{{plainlist|
*1873 [[Samuel Davenport (Australian politician)|Samuel Davenport]]
*1880 [[Robert Dalrymple Ross]]
*1886 [[John Howard Angas]]
*1889 [[George Charles Hawker]]
*1890 [[Samuel Davenport (Australian politician)|Samuel Davenport]]
*1891 [[J. Lancelot Stirling]]
*1893 John Robertson<ref>John Robertson (ca.1836 &ndash; 23 June 1896) was a farmer of [[Golden Grove, South Australia|Golden Grove]]</ref>
*1895 [[William Gilbert (politician)|William Gilbert]]<!-- not to be confused with William Gilbert (pastoralist)-->
*1898 [[Alfred Muller Simpson]] }}
|{{plainlist|
*1900 [[Samuel Goode (mayor)|Samuel Goode]]
*1902 [[John Murray (sheep breeder)|John Murray]]
*1904 [[Thomas Hardy (winemaker)|Thomas Hardy]]
*1905 [[John Hill (businessman)|(Henry) John Hill]]
*1907 [[Alick J. Murray]]
*1909 [[James Rowell]]
*1911 [[W. B. Rounsevell]]
*1913 [[R. H. Crawford]]
*1919 [[Robert T Wallace]] }}
|{{plainlist|
*1921 [[J. Wallace Sandford]]
*1924 [[Walter Gordon Duncan]]
*1926 [[J. Lancelot Stirling]]
*1932 Sir [[Walter Gordon Duncan]]
*1951 [[J Keith Angas]]
*1959 [[Robert C. Gosse]]
*1964 [[Rex C. Warnes]]
*1976 John J. Duncan }}
|}
===Secretaries===
:'''From 1955 the position was described as Director/Secretary'''
{{Plainlist|
*1839 Charles Berkeley
*1842 Henry Watson ( &ndash; ca.15 July 1894)
*1843 William James, Thomas Auld
*1844 John Wotherspoon (ca.1802 &ndash; 12 November 1850)
*1844 [[G. S. Kingston]]
*1846 Lewis Bryant
*1847 E(dward) Amand Wright (ca.1822 &ndash; 13 June 1891)
*1850 Charles J(ohn) Barry (1825 &ndash; 18 November 1896)
*1853 J(ohn) Thain Just (ca.1816 &ndash; 24 April 1854)
*1854 Nicholas James, jun. ( &ndash; 22 October 1861)
*1855 George Alston (1830 &ndash; 27 May 1908)
*1856 [[F. S. C. Driffield]]
*1866 [[Ebenezer Ward]]
*1869 C(harles) J(ames) Coates (6 January 1820 &ndash; 9 October 1889)
*1890 [[Charles Hervey Bagot#Family|C(hristopher) M(ichael) Bagot jun.]]
*1900 [[John Creswell (sportsman)|John Creswell]]
*1910 [[Joseph Albert Riley|Joseph A. "Joe" Riley]]
*1926 Harold J. Finnis MBE (a grandson of Captain [[John Finnis (captain)|John Finnis]], droving companion of [[Charles Sturt]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58555608 |title=Personal and Anecdotal |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |location=Adelaide |date=18 August 1928 |accessdate=14 February 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*1960 Ronald H. Sedsman MBE
*1983 Gary T. Campbell }}
==Directors==
{{Empty section|date=December 2012}}
==Activities==
The Society's most visible activities were the Shows and Exhibitions, but also contributed in other ways:
*During Show Week farmers descend on Adelaide from all over the state. Lectures and papers during show week inform of developments and educate in farm management.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4855728 |title=The Farmer's Week |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=12 September 1901 |accessdate=18 November 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*coordinated farmers' experiences with problems such as Red rust in wheat
*promulgated information on oil seeds, foot and mouth disease outbreak in UK 1881, phylloxera, codlin moth, rabbits
*supported work of [[William Lowrie|Professor Lowrie]] in the face of criticism from politicians in SA and elsewhere.
*conducted tests of farm machinery and methods, often in the form of public contests.
*Egg Laying Contests
*Prizes and medals awarded to students at [[Roseworthy College]]
===Ploughing matches===
This event, as popularized in England, had teams of horses or bullocks competing and were judged on the straightness and uniformity of depth of the furrow and the way the earth was turned over, and of course the time for the team to complete its allocated area. Prizes were allocated according to divisions which reflected the class of ploughing team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27447646 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=17 July 1844 |accessdate=18 December 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Difficulties in organising such events included finding sufficient area of uniform consistency to give ensure fair competition and having had sufficient rain that the ground was not impossibly hard and yet not boggy. The first such organised in South Australia was by the South Australian Agricultural Society in September 1843 and attracted considerable public interest and was emulated by many of the regional agricultural societies.
<!--August 1857 in conjunction with a show of agricultural implements and judging of horses and cattle. The title "Grand Champion Ploughing Match" would indicate that the contestants were many winners of regional contests. One held in 1858 the following year at [[Woodville, South Australia|Woodville]] received fewer contestants, which fact was attributed to the entry fee of 2 guineas.-->
==Country societies==
During the 19th and early 20th centuries many South Australian country centres formed societies with similar aims, following the British model. These included:
*Auburn
*Balaklava and Dalkey
*Blyth and Kybunga
*Booyoolie
*Burra
*Carrieton
*Central Eyre Peninsula
*Central Yorke Peninsula
*Clare
*Clarendon
*Colton (15&nbsp;km north of [[Elliston, South Australia|Elliston]])
*Cummins
*Dry Creek
*Eudunda
*Gawler
*Golden Grove
*Great Flinders Agricultural and Horticultural Society first show 1903 at Lipson.
*Gumeracha
*Hindmarsh
*Kalangadoo
*Kapunda
*Karoonda
*Kingston (i.e. Kingston SE)
*Lake Albert
*Lipson
*Longwood
*Loxton
*Lucindale
*Lyndoch Valley
*Maitland
*Mallala and Dublin
*Mannum
*Millicent
*[[Mintaro, South Australia|Mintaro]]
*Moonta
*Mount Compass and Nangkita
*Mount Gambier
*Mount Lofty
*Mount Pleasant
*Mount Remarkable
*Murray Bridge
*Northern Areas Amalgamated Agricultural and Horticultural Societies Cradock in 1883, Wilson in 1884)
*Onkaparinga
*Orroroo
*Penola
*Penong and Western Districts
*Petersburg
*Pinnaroo
*Port Elliot (Southern Agricultural and Horticultural Society)
*Port Lincoln
*Port Pirie
*Port Wakefield
*Quorn
*Renmark
*Robe
*Saddleworth
*Snowtown
*Southern
*Southern Yorke Peninsula
*Stanley
*Stirling
*Strathalbyn
*Tantanoola
*Tatiara
*Torrens Valley
*Two Wells/Two Wells Amalgamated
*Uraidla and Summertown
*Virginia and Port Gawler
*Willowie
*Willunga, Aldinga, McLaren Vale, Noarlunga
*Wilmington (Beautiful Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 1883)
*Wooroora
*Yankalilla
*Yatina
*Yorketown
==See also==
{{Portal|Gardening|Plants|Trees|Australia}}
*[[Gardening in Australia]]
*[[Royal Adelaide Show]]
*[[Adelaide Showgrounds]]
*[[RAHS timeline]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
*Kerr, Colin and Margaret ''Royal Show'' Stock Journal Publishers, for Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society 1983 {{ISBN|0 9596833 1 3}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Horticultural organisations based in Australia]]
[[Category:Agricultural organisations based in Australia]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Australia with royal patronage]]
[[Category:Agriculture in South Australia]]