Peter Waite

Peter Waite was a man of great vision and active interest in the economic development of South Australia.

He was chairman of Elder Smith Company, and held directorships for companies including the Mutooroo, Beltana and Momba Pastoral Companies and British Broken Hill Mining.

Waite's abiding interest in innovation encompassed inclusion of new technologies such as electricity and refrigeration in his mansion, Urrbrae House, and also led to the gifting of the Urrbrae estate to The University of Adelaide for the development of an agricultural research institute after his death. A man of great practicality, Waite included shares in his gift to fund the fledgling institute.

Waite's gift remains one of the largest public benefactions in South Australia's history. The Waite Agricultural Research Institute is now the Waite Campus of the University of Adelaide, and is home to world-renowned research and education in agriculture and oenology.