Peter Waite (philanthropist)

Peter Waite (9 May 1834 – 4 April 1922)[1] was a South Australian pastoralist, businessman, company director and public benefactor.

Waite then (in conjunction with Sir Thomas Elder) bought Paratoo station, and gradually obtained interests in other properties.

He held directorships with the Commercial Union Assurance Co. Ltd, the British Broken Hill Co. Ltd, and the S.A. Woollen Co. Ltd.[1] In 1913 Waite presented to the University of Adelaide his valuable Urrbrae estate comprising 134 acres (54 ha) and house, to which in 1915 was added the adjoining Claremont and Netherby estates of 165 acres (67 ha).

[1] Waite was working until a few months before his death from heart failure on 4 April 1922; he was survived by his wife, son and three daughters.

[1] One of his daughters, Elizabeth Macmeikan (died 5 April 1931), left the residue of her estate, some £16,000, to the University of Adelaide to be used for the study of sciences relating to the land, either in connexion with the Waite Research Institute or otherwise.

Australian pastoralist and philanthropist Peter Waite
Urrbrae House, which was included in Peter Waite's bequest to the University of Adelaide. The house was his primary place of residence from 1891 when it was completed until his death in 1922.