Celebrating 100 years of Waite

Peter Waite was a trailblazing pastoralist and agricultural innovator. His bequest – one of South Australia’s most substantial individual contributions – gifted the University with 300 acres of land dedicated to agricultural research and education.

As dictated by Peter, the property was to be used for two purposes: as an agricultural science and research facility, and public green space (the parcel we now know as the Waite Arboretum and playing fields). Other land Peter owned was donated to the South Australian Government to establish an agricultural high school, which became Urrbrae High.

According to Lynette Zeitz, Manager, Curator and Historian at the Urrbrae House Historic Precinct, the catalyst for the bequest was a family tragedy. The death of Peter’s son, David, who was presumed lost at sea in 1913, prompted the Waite family to reassess the future of the land. After consulting his three daughters and his wife, Matilda, the decision was made to bequeath the property. “It’s a story about transforming personal tragedy into this incredible legacy,” says Lynette.

At the time, Peter saw South Australia as a leader in agricultural and pastoral development. But he believed there should be investment in science and education in order for the state to stay at the forefront. This was a likely position for a man who, if he was alive today, would be considered an early adopter.

“He had the second motor car registration in South Australia. He had electricity put into Urrbrae House - the first house in Adelaide to have electricity. He used novel land management techniques on his pastoral stations. He imported steam diggers to build dams. He was also an environmentalist ahead of his time,” Lynette says. “I often joke with high school groups that come through that if Peter Waite were alive today he would be wanting an iPhone 20 by now.”

Today, the campus that bears Waite’s name has evolved into a world-class Australian research, education, and commercialisation precinct, and, in the mould of its namesake, innovation is always at the forefront. It has the largest expertise in plant biotechnology, cereal breeding, sustainable agriculture, wine, food, horticulture, and  natural resource science, firmly establishing itself as a leader in the southern hemisphere.