Lumen Waite 100 - Flipbook - Page 10
‘Dancing into the Light’ sculpture
In the gardens to the south of Urrbrae House cavorts
this beautifully fluid statue by Meliesa Judge. Ceres,
the goddess of grain, swirls her robe, emblazoned with
wheat varieties developed at the Waite. Dancing with
her is daughter Proserpina, who heralds the arrival of
spring. This bronze was gifted to the Waite Arboretum
by the Jenner family, referencing the careers of both Dr
Colin Jenner, a Waite alum who worked with cereals,
and his wife Norma Jenner, a dance educator.
Australia’s first domestic refrigeration unit
In the 1890s, Peter Waite wanted to have all the latest mod cons in
his home, including electric lighting and refrigeration. The very big
walk-in fridge in his basement was installed in 1895 by Wildridge &
Sinclair of Sydney. It is the earliest example of domestic refrigeration
in Australia, cooled by ammonia and originally designed for
installation in steamships but modified to fit into a family home.
Three separate refrigerated chambers were used for meat, fruit
and vegetables, and dairy produce. Behind the wood panelling,
150mm of charcoal provided insulation for the cold rooms. This
significant historical piece is slated for restoration during 2024.
Weather station
A little out of the way, the campus Meteorological Station
is sited a few hundred metres to the west of the main Waite
building. Surrounded by experimental grass plots, it was one
of the very first structures put in place by the founders – its
first iteration being constructed in 1925, just one year into our
history. Then, as now, an understanding of climate was critical.
Bird-proof cage
The almond trees
contained within this birdproof cage have spawned
a bouquet of almond
trees around the world.
So coveted are these trees,
their limbs are gilded with
an insect-proof net prior to
being pollinated by hand.
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