John Frame,
A well-known South Australian agriculturalist in the Mount Barker district. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, April 28, 1799; arrived in Adelaide, August 14, 1839. He first turned his attention to agriculture in 1843, when he, in conjunction with Mr. Allan Bell and the late Mr. Patterson, took up three sections at the Bald Hills, near Mount Barker, and began the cultivation of wheat. He was very successful, and five years later removed to a larger farm, which he occupied at the time of his death. The land being admirally adapted for the successful growth of all kinds of cereals. Mount Barker wheat soon won a name for itself in the market, and ultimately a sample of it sent to England by Mr. Frame gained the gold medal at the first London International Exhibition in 1851. From that date he has received many valuable awards from Commissioners of British and Foreign Exhibitions and at various Agricultural Shows in this and the neighbouring colonies. He was a member of the Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia from its foundation, and hardly a Show was held under its auspices at which he has not taken one or more prizes. His long and useful labours were recognised in his being made a life-member of the Society. In 1853 he was, in conjunction with Mr. John Dunn and others, appointed a member of the first Mount Barker District Council, and was also instrumental in starting the Mount Barker Agricultural Society. Mr. Frame was just the stamp of colonist required here, a practical farmer, who knew how to make the best of the land at his disposal. His death took place in July 1885, at the advanced age of 86 years.