Roseworthy, Australia's first agricultural college in 1883, grows from viticulture to veterinary science

Roseworthy agricultural college became the Adelaide University’s Roseworthy campus in 1991.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia

Roseworthy opened north of Adelaide in 1883 as Australia’s first agricultural college.

The college, as a model farm, was a forerunner of the South Australian government department of agriculture, although the lands department would run the  government’s early role in the agriculture sector by trying to control pest, animal, livestock and plant diseases.

Roseworthy had previously been part of Adelaide University and run by a professor of agriculture. John Custance had a short stint as first director before being sacked by political interests. Another principal, Roseworthy graduate William Birks (1927-32), had to resign after a strike by students.

From 1936, a full-time diploma of oenology was taught by Alan Hickinbotham and John Williams.  

Research included fertilisers in dryland cropping and breeding new wheat varieties that were all released bearing the name of a bladed weapon (such as sabre wheat, sword wheat). Agriculture, oenology and natural resources faculties were well regarded and winemaking students came from throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Roseworthy College stayed a separate government entity until 1973, when it became a college of advanced education under the education department and admitted female students for the first time.

In 1991, the college became the Adelaide University’s Roseworthy campus and part of the faculty of agricultural and natural resource sciences. Also, teaching and research in oenology and viticulture transferred to the university's Waite campus, along with most work in plant breeding.

From the mid 1990s, the major focus of Roseworthy campus turned to dryland agriculture, natural resource management and animal production. The campus became home to South Australia's first pre-service veterinary science training. In 2013, this was expanded with an equine health and performance centre for equine surgery, sports medicine, internal medicine and reproduction.