[1][2] Farrer was born in Footscray in Melbourne but soon left to live in Hobart in Tasmania.
[2] Farrer later worked in the United Kingdom in the period of 1987 and 2001, where he documented about food additives and other research.
[2] Later on in life, Farrer would be awarded an honorary doctorate (DSc) in 1954 by the University of Melbourne, and would also complete a Master of Arts (MA) at La Trobe University in 1977, due to his interest in environmental history, particularly about William Carey’s botanical advances.
[4][1] His support not only was at Carey but also in his many academic and research organisations including being a foundational fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Science (FTSE) in 1975.
[5][4] In addition to this, Farrer was also a fellow of many other scientific organisations that included; the International Academy of Food Science and Technology, the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI), the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (FAIFST) (of which he was a co-founder in 1967 amongst others),[1] the Institute of Food Science & Technology (FIFST), and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).