Obituaries Australia

Andrew Smith, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 December 1924

A much respected and distinguished figure in the pastoral industry in South Australia, Mr. Andrew Smith, of Mutooroo Station died in Adelaide recently. Mr. Andrew Smith, who was born in Scotland in 1853, was the father of the late Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith, the famous aviators. In addition to the late Sir Ross Smith a younger son (Colin) was killed in France in 1917.

The late Mr. Andrew Smith arrived in Western Australia in 1875 but going to South Australia a few years later he entered the employ of the late Mr. Peter Waite at Paratoo Station, in the north-east of South Australia. He has managed stations in that part of the State ever since. In 1887 he was appointed general manager of Mutooroo, and this position he held until his death.

The late Mr. Waite had a very high opinion of Mr. Andrew Smith, and declared that some of the greatest work in the State, from the pastoral point of view, had been done by him. He built up, improved, and converted a waterless region into a productive wool country to such an extent that in one year 139,000 sheep were shorn at the station. He was a great advocate for water improvements and fencing.