Celebrating 125 years Roseworthy Campus

More than 4000 people turned out to celebrate the 125th birthday of the Roseworthy Campus at a special Open Day on Sunday 2 November, 2008.

The day featured the theme `The Science Behind the Product' and included exhibits, talks, food, entertainment and family activities.

The University of Adelaide campus was founded as Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1883. It played a pivotal role in shaping the nation, addressing multiple crises including serious drought, pests, unsustainable farming practices, food shortages and a deficit of trained young people entering agriculture.

It has an impressive list of `firsts' to its credit, pioneering the use of superphospate in Australia, introducing the first wine-making course in the country, developing the practice of crop rotation and is on the verge of producing the world's first surgical mulesing alternative.

The Roseworthy brand name is recognised globally for its viticulture and oenology reputation and many of its graduates constitute a "who's who" of South Australian agriculture. ■

PHOTOS JOHN HEMMINGS