Arthur Perkins brought from Tunisia in 1892 in a major boost to South Australian wine at Roseworthy and beyond
Arthur Perkins, Roseworthy Agriculture principal and later South Australian agriculture director, took his viniculture knowledge to wine-growing districts.
Image from Rembrandt Studio,1928, courtesy State Library of South Australia
South Australian wine growing had a major boost from Arthur Perkins being recruited from Tunisia in 1892 to join the colony’s central agricultural bureau as government viticulturist. Based at Roseworthy Agricultural College, Perkins was appointed after requests to the government by the bureau and South Australian Vinegrowers’ Association for expert advice to farmers on viticulture, oenology and horticulture.
Perkins brought a broad international background. Born near Alexandria, Egypt, as son of a Reuter's agent, he was educated at St Louis College, Carthage; St Charles College, Tunis; and All Saints' School, Bloxham, Oxfordshire, England. In 1887-90, he gained the diploma of the Ecole Nationale d'Agriculture at Montpellier, France, with special interest in viticulture.
Fluent in English, Arabic, Latin, ancient Greek, French and Italian, Perkins spent two years running properties in Tunisia where his father, decorated by French and Tunisian governments for diplomatic work, managed Tunis gas, water and electricity company.
In South Australia, Perkins answered wide concern about diversifying and improving agricultural productivity He was asked to bring olive and vine cuttings and wheat seeds with him. At Roseworthy, he taught viticulture, winemaking and fruit culture and lectured about these in wine-growing districts where he was popular with farmers. He started 80 acres of vineyards and a winery at Roseworthy College in 1895 when he became professor.
Perkins checked all wines going to London through government channels, advised on any question about vines and wines, analysed wine for winemakers and examined vineyards. Teaching European viticultural methods, including pest and disease control and winemaking, were Perkins’ first major contribution. His second was devising quarantine regulations to protect South Australia from the pest phylloxera.
In 1902, he became secretary for agriculture in the agriculture department and edited the South Australian Journal of Agriculture. Two years later he was principal of Roseworthy college where he researched systematic selection to improve wheat varieties, digestibility of foodstuffs for stock, fat-lamb breeding, and phases of cereal growing—from using manures to seed-planting depths. His students gave him a testimonial when he is returned from Europe, north Africa and Asia in 1910.
Perkins replaced William Lowrie as South Australian agriculture director in 1914 with impressive experience, persuasive powers and administrative skill. When he retired in 1936, South Australian wine making had improved markedly and the area under vines and cellars had doubled.