Henry Shoobridge (1874-1963) was the pioneer of organic farming in Tasmania. He was the founder and the president of the island’s earliest organics advocacy group, the Living Soil Association of Tasmania (1946- 1960). The Shoobridge family had emigrated from Kent, England in 1822 bringing with them the hops cuttings with which they established hops as a successful primary industry in Tasmania. Henry Shoobridge was schooled at The Friend’s School, the Quaker school in Hobart. The Shoobridges pioneered the farming of hops in Tasmania, and Henry followed his forebears in this work. At the age of 71 years, Henry Shoobridge founded the Living Soil Association of Tasmania (LSAT) at a public meeting in Hobart on 30 August 1946. The LSAT affiliated with the Australian Organic Farming and Gardening Society (AOFGS) which was founded in Sydney in October 1944, and with the UK’s Soil Association which was founded in England in May 1946

Paull, John

English

Organic Eprints

4  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa   Issue 97Henry Shoobridge Tasmania’s Pioneer of Organic Farming   John PaullFenner School of Society and Environment, Australian National Universityjohn.paull[a]anu.edu.auAbstractHenry	 Shoobridge	 (1874-1963)	 was	 the	pioneer	 of	 organic	 farming	 in	 Tasmania.	He	was	the	founder	and	the	president	of	the	island’s	earliest	organic	advocacy	group,	the	Living	Soil	Association	of	Tasmania	(1946-1960).	The	Shoobridge	family	had	emigrated	from	Kent,	England	in	1822	bringing	with	them	 the	 hops	 cuttings	 with	 which	 they	established	 hops	 as	 a	 successful	 primary	industry	in	Tasmania.	Henry	Shoobridge	was	schooled	at	The	Friend’s	School,	the	Quaker	school	in	Hobart.	The	Shoobridges	pioneered	the	farming	of	hops	in	Tasmania,	and	Henry	followed	his	forebears	in	this	work.	At	the	age	of	71	years,	Henry	Shoobridge	founded	the	 Living	 Soil	 Association	 of	 Tasmania	(LSAT)	at	a	public	meeting	in	Hobart	on	30	August	1946.	The	LSAT	affiliated	with	the	Australian	Organic	Farming	and	Gardening	Society	 (AOFGS)	 which	 was	 founded	 in	Sydney	in	October	1944,	and	with	the	UK’s	Soil	 Association	 which	 was	 founded	 in	England	in	May	1946.Hops to Van Diemen’s LandHenry’s	 great	 grandfather	 William	Shoobridge	 (1781-1836)	 migrated	 from	Kent,	 England	 to	 Van	 Diemen’s	 Land	 in	1822.	William	had	been	tempted	by	the	offer	of:	 “as	 much	 land	 as	 can	 conveniently	 be	cultivated”	(Shoobridge,	2002,	p.1).	William	embarked	with	his	pregnant	wife	and	eight	children.	On	the	voyage	from	England	to	Van	Diemen’s	Land	(now	Tasmania,	Australia),	William’s	 wife	 and	 three	 children	 died,	apparently	from	scurvy.	From	Kent,	William	carried	“A	poke	(a	large	bag)	of	hops	sets”.	These	cuttings	survived	the	voyage	and	he	promptly	planted	them	on	arrival	in	Hobart,	and	 thus	 established	 the	 hop	 industry	 in	Tasmania	(Shoobridge,	2002,	p.1).	Michael	Shoobridge	reports	a	family	saying	dating	from	the	1920s:“Of	 all	 the	 hops	 grown	 in	 Australia,	90%	are	grown	in	Tasmania,	90%	come	from	 the	 Derwent	 Valley,	 and	 90%	of	 these	 are	 grown	 by	 Shoobridges”	(Shoobridge,	2002,	p.2).	A	1948	ABC	radio	broadcast	on	Hobart	radio	station	7ZL	informed	Tasmanians	that:	“Hops,	 more	 probably	 than	 any	 other	primary	product,	is	a	specialised	crop.	The	plant	will	only	grow	in	sheltered	pockets	of	highly	fertile	soil.	Such	an	area	 is	 the	 Derwent	 Valley,	 and	 there	on	 the	 estate	 owned	 by	 Henry	 W.	Shoobridge	and	his	sons,	we	watched	the	picking	of	some	of	the	world’s	finest	hops”	(ABC,	1948,	p.2).Henry	Shoobridge	featured	as	the	subject	of	a	film,	a	Tasmanian	Education	Department	Production:	 ‘Henry	 Shoobridge,	 Hop-Grower’	directed	by	Michael	Otton	(Otton,	1952).	 Henry	 Shoobridge’s	 hop	 farm	 at	Bushy	Park	in	the	Derwent	Valley	is	about	an	hour’s	drive	from	Hobart,	it	remains	in	hop	production,	although	it	is	no	longer	owned	by	the	family.Paull, John (2010) Henry Shoobridge, Tasmania's Pioneer of Organic Farming Journal of Bio-Dynamics Tasmania, 97: 4-10Issue 97  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa  5Henry ShoobridgeHenry	Wanostrocht	Shoobridge	(1874-1963)	was	born	31	August	1874	in	New	Norfolk,	Tasmania.	The	family	moved	to	Bushy	Park	(by	road	about	68	kilometres	north	west	of	Hobart)	in	1878.	Henry	was	home-schooled	first	 by	 his	 grandmother,	 and	 then	 by	 a	“succession	of	Governesses”	until	his	father	built	a	local	school	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.1).	Henry	wrote	in	his	unpublished	biography	of	happy	childhood	memories,	that:	“Hop	 picking,	 the	 season	 from	 which	all	farm	time	was	reckoned,	was	always	looked	forward	to	with	joy	by	all	the	children.	We	always	thought	it	a	hardship	that	we	had	school	in	the	mornings,	and	were	allowed	to	go	picking	only	in	the	afternoons”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.4).Henry	described	himself,	as	a	child,	as	“the	first	wicked	member	of	the	family”	and	as	“always	laughing”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.1).Henry	reported	his	experience	of	one	serious	illness	and	the	family’s	reliance	on	alternative	medicine:	“When	 I	 was	 11	 years	 old,	 I	 had	 a	severe	attack	of	Typhoid	fever.	Mother	nursed	me	at	home,	under	instructions	from	 Dr.	 Benjafield,	 the	 Homeopathic	doctor	in	Hobart.	I	was	in	bed	for	over	a	month,	and	had	frequent	‘cold	packs’	and	special	diet,	and	recovered	rapidly”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.5).Religion	 was	 an	 integral	 part	 of	 farm	 and	family	life:“We	always	went	to	Church	once,	and	generally	 twice	 every	 Sunday,	 and	always	to	Sunday	school.	In	the	early	days	services	were	held	in	the	hop	kilns.	Above:  Henry Shoobridge in a still from the film: ‘Henry Shoobridge, Hop-Grower’,   a Tasmanian Education Department Production (Otton, 1952).6  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa   Issue 97Even	in	hop-picking,	when	most	of	the	floor	was	covered	in	hops,	a	space	would	be	 cleared,	 and	 the	 forms	 and	 organ	brought	in;	all	the	men	were	expected	to	go	to	church,	and	the	children	to	Sunday	School”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.3).The	Religious	Society	of	Friends	(Quakers)	established	 the	 Friends’	 School	 in	 Hobart	in	 1887	 with	 the	 financial	 support	 of	 the	Society	in	London.	At	the	age	of	12	years,	Henry	joined	the	school	in	its	inaugural	year;	he	appears	in	the	school	Register	as	enrollee	number	10,	and	as	a	“Non	Member”	(i.e.	not	a	Quaker)	(Friends’	School,	1887).Henry	was	one	of	the	first	student	boarders	at	the	school.	In	that	first	year	there	were	six	boarders,	two	girls	and	four	boys	(Friends	High	School,	1881).	Three	of	the	six	were	children	of	the	headmaster	Samuel	Clemes,	Isabel,	 Margaret	 and	 William;	 there	 were	additionally	the	two	Shoobridge	boys,	Henry	and	his	brother	Vincent,	plus	Charles	Taylor.The	Friends’	school	was	co-educational	from	the	 outset,	 and	 it	 placed	 an	 emphasis	 on	science	and	natural	history.	Henry	reported	that:“School	 days	 were	 very	 happy,	 for	as	well	as	class	room	work,	there	was	football,	 cricket,	 alleys	 amongst	 other	games	 before	 and	 after	 school.	 On	Saturdays	there	were	excursions	in	the	bush	and	up	Mount	Wellington,	Mounts	Direction	and	Rumney	and	the	beaches	at	Bellerive,	Frederick	Henry	Bay,	and	on	one	occasion	to	Seven	Mile	Beach”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.6).As	a	student	Henry	was	the	secretary	of	the	Boarders’	 Literary	 Society	 (Shoobridge,	1891).	He	served	on	the	committee	of	the	school	magazine	‘School	Echoes’	(Clemes,	1891).	In	the	school’s	Natural	History	and	Essay	 Society	 he	 served	 as	 a	 curator	 of	‘Astronomy	and	Meteorology’	and	‘Botany’	(Clemes,	1891).	Later	he	was	President	of	the	Friends’	School	Old	Scholars	Association	(1905-1910)	(Friends’	School,	1961).Henry	completed	his	schooling	at	Friends’:	“I	 passed	 the	 Leaving	 Certificate	 in	1891	 before	 leaving	 school,	 but	 as	 I	failed	to	pass	in	Latin,	it	did	not	qualify	for	 matriculation.	 On	 leaving	 school	I	came	to	work	on	the	farm	at	Bushy	Park”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.8).From	the	Friends’	School	Henry	took	up	farm	management	roles	at	Bushy	Park.	An	early	responsibility	for	Henry	after	his	return	was	the	newly	established	dairy:	“I	was	in	charge	of	the	dairy	for	some	years.	Our	cheese	...	was	 equal	 to	 the	 best	Tasmanian	 and	 sold	freely”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.9).	As	well	as	hops	and	dairy	there	were	orchards	and	root	crops.	Other	than	drying	hops,	the	hop	kilns	served	 multiple	 purposes,	 including	 drying	chicory,	storing	apples,	and	church	services.Henry	 had	 a	 life-long	 active	 engagement	in	community	service	roles.	He	wrote	that:	“I	always	took	an	interest	in	social	work”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.12).	He	was	secretary	of	the	Bushy	Park	Club	and	Library	for	39	years	 (Shoobridge,	 1947b).	 He	 served	 as	chairman	of	the	Hop	Producers	Association,	and	secretary	of	the	local	Board	of	Agriculture	(Shoobridge,	 1947b).	 He	 was	 a	 long	 time	member	 of	 the	 Tasmanian	 Fruit	 Growers	Association,	“and	helped	in	establishing	the	English	fruit	export	industry.	We	used	to	ship	between	 20	 and	 30,000	 cases	 every	 year”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.10).Religion	was	always	an	important	part	of	life	for	Henry:	“In	 1897	 I	 was	 received	 as	 a	 fully	accredited	 Local	 Preacher	 of	 the	Methodist	 Church.	 I	 used	 to	 hold	services	 frequently	 at	 New	 Norfolk,	Glenora,	 Mount	 Lloyd,	 Molesworth,	Tyenna,	 Maydena,	 Uxbridge	 and	Moogara.	 At	 this	 latter	 place	 I	 also	Issue 97  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa  7started	a	Sunday	School”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.11).Henry	 acknowledged	 the	 practical	 and	enduring	religious	influence	of	his	mother:	“By	 her	 practical,	 loving	 Christianity	she	gave	us	all	a	solid	foundation	for	our	 lives,	 on	 the	 principles	 that	 will	never	 fail	 us.	 She	 taught	 me	 to	 rely	on	the	inspiration	of	the	Word	of	God	as	a	guide	in	all	the	difficult	places,	as	well	 as	 in	 times	 of	 gladness.	 She	 set	an	 example	 of	 quite	 efficient	 service,	to	all	with	whom	she	came	in	contact”	(Shoobridge,	1947b,	p.17).The	Shoobridge	family	had	a	long	association	with	 the	 Quakers.	 The	 emigrant	 William	Shoobridge	 (1782-1836)	 attended	 Quaker	meetings.	According	to	William	Oates:“The	 ‘convinced’	 were	 drawn	 mainly	from	 the	 Wesleyans	 of	 Hobart.	 There	were	 some	 Wesleyans,	 like	 William	Shoobridge	 and	 his	 wife,	 who	 were	greatly	 influenced	 by	 Backhouse	 and	Walker,	and	were	said	by	Walker	to	be	entirely	 convinced	 by	 the	 soundness	of	Friends’	principles,	but	who	did	not	break	with	the	Wesleyans,	even	though	they	were	regular	attenders	at	Meetings	of	 Worship	 with	 Friends.	 William	Shoobridge	was	a	frequent	contributor	to	ministry	in	these	Meetings”	(Oates,	1982,	p.191).In	1836	William	Shoobridge	contributed	half	an	acre	of	land	as	a	Quaker	cemetery	-	it	is	now	a	public	park	and	children’s	playground	and	 known	 as	 Friends’	 Park,	 located	 in	Mellifont	Street,	West	Hobart	(Hewitt,	1981).Henry	 maintained	 his	 association	 with	the	 Friends’	 School	 throughout	 his	 life.	It	 was	 reported	 that	 he	 attended	 “most	 of	the	 functions	 which	 marked	 the	 [75th]	Anniversary”;	the	Old	Scholars’	Association	recorded:	“His	evident	delight	and	interest	in	these	activities	reflected	a	love	and	concern	for	the	school	which	never	flagged	throughout	his	 long	 life”	 (Annells,	 1963,	 p.151).	 The	Friend’s	School	in	Hobart	is	now	the	largest	Quaker	school	in	the	world	(Bennett,	2008)	with	 students	 from	 pre-school	 through	 to	year	12.The Living Soil Association of Tasmania	 The	 Living	 Soil	Association	 of	 Tasmania	(1946-1960)	was	founded	at	a	public	meeting	in	Hobart	on	30	August	1946	(Bayles,	1946).	Henry	 Shoobridge	 was	 the	 prime	 mover	behind	the	founding	of	the	association	and	he	was	its	president	(Paull,	2009).	For	its	name,	the	LSAT	drew	on	Eve	Balfour’s	book	‘The	Living	Soil’	(1943),	and	her	Soil	Association	which	had	recently	been	formed	in	England.	Three	months	after	the	UK	Soil	Association	was	 incorporated,	 a	 single-page	 flyer	announced	 a	 “Move	 to	 Form	 Soil	 Study	Association	in	Tasmania”.	It	declared:	“With	 the	 object	 of	 studying	 and	making	 known	 the	 results	 of	 research	into	 organic	 manuring	 to	 carry	 out	Nature’s	law	of	returning	all	vegetables	and	animal	wastes	to	the	soil,	a	move	has	 been	 made	 to	 form	 a	 living	 Soil	Association	of	Tasmania”	(Anon,	1946).The	flyer	was	printed	in	Hobart	by	Mercury	Press,	and	it	invited	readers	to	“a	meeting	to	inaugurate	the	association”.	The	meeting	was	scheduled	for	“Aug.	30	when	it	is	hoped	there	will	be	a	good	attendance	of	town	and	country	 people	 to	 put	 the	 movement	 on	 a	strong	footing”	(Anon,	1946).From	the	outset	an	expressed	intention	was	to	engage	with	“The	Soil	Association	formed	in	England	recently	…	If	formed,	the	Tasmanian	society	will	affiliate	and	co-operate	with	the	English	organisation”	(Anon,	1946).The	interaction	with	the	UK	Soil	Association	and	the	AOFGS	was	a	two	way	interchange	of	 ideas.	 Shoobridge	 contributed	 to	 the	8  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa   Issue 97first	edition	of	Mother	Earth,	the	journal	of	the	Soil	Association	(1946),	and	to	the	first	volume	of	the	Organic	Farming	Digest,	the	journal	of	the	AOFGS	(1947e;	1947f;	1949).Henry	 recognized	 the	 pioneering	 role	 of	LSAT:“	 …	 we	 are	 Pioneers	 exploring	 new	territory	…	It	is	a	big	job	and	will	take	all	 our	 united	 efforts”	 (Shoobridge,	1947a,	p.1,3).Henry	and	the	LSAT	placed	an	emphasis	on	inclusion:	“	 …	 we	 must	 gain	 the	 co-operation	of	all	our	scientists.	It	is	work	which	concerns	 us	 all	 and	 can	 only	 be	accomplished	if	we	all	work	together	...	It	is	imperative	that	every	section	of	the	community	should	be	working	with	us”	(Shoobridge,	1947d,	p.1).	The	LSAT	actively	pursued	the	co-operation	of	 local	 groups,	 and	 eleven	 such	 groups	were	formally	represented	on	the	inaugural	Council	of	the	LSAT:Hobart	City	Council;	Education	Department	of	Tasmania;	Tasmanian	Farmers	Federation;Royal	Agricultural	Society	of	Tasmania;	Horticultural	Society	of	Tasmania;	Tasmanian	 Farmers	 Stockowners	 &	Orchardists	Association;	State	Fruit	Board;	Stone	and	Berry	Fruits	Board;	Upper	 Derwent	 Farm	 Home	 and	 Garden	Society;	Country	Women’s	Association;	and	the	Tasmanian	Council	for	Mother	and	Child.	From	 the	 outset	 the	 LSAT	 adopted	 	the	 AOFGS’s	 journal,	 the	 Organic	Farming	Digest,	as	its	primary	publication.	 	Membership	 of	 the	 LSAT	 included	 a	subscription	 to	 the	 Organic	 Farming	Digest.	 The	 members	 of	 the	 LSAT	 were	geographically	 widely	 distributed	 across	the	island.	Meetings	peaked	at	nine	in	the	years	1947	and	1950.	Film	nights	were	held	at	 the	 Hydo-Electric	Theatrette,	 in	 Hobart.	Membership	 of	 the	 LSAT	 peaked	 at	 274	members	in	1952	(Paull,	2009).	The	 “President’s	 Report	 for	 Ten	 Months	Ended	31st	July	1947”	was	upbeat	and	exuded	optimism.	 President	 Shoobridge	 reported	that:	“We	realised	that	we	were	following	a	few	pioneers	into	new	territory”	(Shoobridge,	1947d,	p.1).	Shoobridge	declared	that:	“We	realised	that	it	would	be	unwise	to	stir	up	the	antagonism	 between	 organic	 and	 inorganic	manures”	(Shoobridge,	1947d,	p.1).	Shoobridge	reiterated	his	non-confrontational	approach	in	a	letter	to	Eve	Balfour:	“	 …	 we	 are	 endeavouring	 to	 take	 a	positive	rather	than	a	negative	approach.	That	is,	we	are	not	stressing	that	it	is	just	the	question	of	organic	or	inorganic	fertilisers;	 but	 emphasising	 the	 fact	that	 whichever	 we	 consider	 necessary	to	stimulate	the	growth	of	our	crops,	it	is	absolutely	necessary	that	the	humus	content	 of	 our	 soil	 be	 maintained	 at	a	 maximum.	 To	 do	 this	 every	 effort	must	 be	 made	 to	 return	 all	 possible	residues	both	from	plants	and	animals”	(Shoobridge,	1947c,	p.1).The	AOFGS	 was	 wound	 up	 in	 1955.	 The	consequent	loss	of	the	AOFGS’s	Digest	as	the	LSAT’s	official	organ	would	have	been	a	serious	blow	to	the	LSAT.	Over	several	years	there	had	been	talk	of	the	LSAT	publishing	its	own	journal	but	other	than	four	Newsletters	this	goal	was	never	realized	(Paull,	2009).	During	 Eve	 Balfour’s	 trip	 to	 Australia	 in	1959	the	pair	met	“personally	at	long	last”	(Balfour,	 1959,	 p.702).	 Balfour	 describes	Shoobridge	as	“President	of	the	Living	Soil	Association	 of	 Tasmania,	 and	 our	 oldest	Tasmanian	member”	(p.702).	In	her	account,	Balfour	published	a	photo	of	Shoobridge	in	his	hop	fields	at	Bushy	Park.	Shoobridge	was	Issue 97  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa  984	years	old	at	the	time.Concluding RemarksThe	 Living	 Soil	 Association	 of	 Tasmania	pioneered	the	concepts	of	organic	food	and	farming	in	Australia’s	smallest	state,	for	the	decade	immediately	after	WWII.	The	LSAT	was	 one	 of	 the	 world’s	 first	 organisations	to	promote	organic	farming.	It	was	part	of	Australia’s	first	wave	of	organics	advocacy	groups	and	kindred	societies	which	included	the	 Australian	 Organic	 Farming	 and	Gardening	Society	(founded	1944),	and	the	Victorian	Compost	Society	(founded	1945).	Henry	Shoobridge	was	promoting	his	own	‘green’	vision	for	Tasmania,	and	the	world,	decades	before	Bob	Brown,	the	Greens,	Peter	Cundall,	and	the	United	Tasmania	Group.	He	was	the	founder	of	one	of	Tasmania’s	earliest	‘green’	advocacy	groups.	Henry	Shoobridge	was	 a	 successful	 farmer,	 a	 dedicated	Methodist	preacher,	and	the	visionary	behind	the	establishment	of	Tasmania’s	first	organic	farming	 advocacy	 group,	 the	 Living	 Soil	Association	of	Tasmania.	ReferencesABC	 (1948).	 Hop  Vines  in  the  Valley,	(Transcipt	of		“A	Documentary	Broadcast”;	broadcast	on	7ZL	on	20	May	1948).	Australian	Broadcasting	Commission	(ABC).Annells,	J.	E.	(1963).	Friends’	School	Old	Scholars’	 Association.	 School  Echoes,	CCV(November):	150-151.	Anon	 (1946).	 Move  to  Form  Soil  Study Association in Tasmania,	(1	p.	flyer).	Hobart:	Mercury	Press.Balfour,	 E.	 B.	 (1943).	 The  Living  Soil: Evidence of the importance to human health of soil vitality, with special reference to post-war planning.	London:	Faber	and	Faber.Balfour,	E.	B.	(1959).	Letter	from	Australia,	No.	3.	Mother Earth,	10(October):	701-716.	continued over page...Below:  The Text Kiln - A Shoobridge-family hop kiln at Bushy Park, Tasmania.10  elementals - Journal of BIo-DynamIcs tasmanIa   Issue 97Bayles,	R.	J.	(1946).	Letter to The New Zealand Humic Compost Society Incorporated from LSAT.	 Manuscript,	 NS248/1/1-4,	 Archives	Office	of	Tasmania,	NS248/1/1-4,	Archives	Office	of	Tasmania,	Hobart,	9	October.Bennett,	M.	(2008).	Quaker Life in Tasmania: The first hundred years.	Hobart:	University	of	Tasmania	Library.Clemes,	S.	(1891).	Natural	History	and	Essay	Society.	School Echoes,	V	(March):	60.	Friends	High	School	(1881).	List	of	Boarders.	School Echoes,	V	(March):	59.	Friends’	 School	 (1887).	 Register  Book.	Hobart:	The	Friends’	School.Friends’	School	(1961).	The Friends’ School 1887-1961:  The  Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. Hobart:	The	Friends’	School.Hewitt,	 N.	 (1981).	 Friends  in  Tasmania 1832-1982.	Hobart:	Nancie	Hewitt.Oates,	W.	N.	(1982).	Quakers in Australia in  the  Nineteenth  Century,	 (PhD	 Thesis).	Hobart:	University	of	Tasmania.Otton,	 M.	 (1952).	 Henry  Shoobridge, Hop  Grower,  (movie).	 Hobart:	 Tasmanian	Education	Department.Paull,	J.	(2009).	The	Living	Soil	Association:	Pioneering	Organic	Farming	and	Innovating	Social	inclusion.	Journal of Organic Systems,	4(1):	15-33.	Shoobridge,	H.	W.	(1891).	Boarders’	Literary	Society.	School Echoes,	VII(September):	82.	Shoobridge,	H.	W.	(1946).	Farmers	and	the	future.	Mother Earth,	(1):	19.	Shoobridge,	H.	W.	(1947a).	Annual Meeting 25th  September  1947,  The  Living  Soil Association of Tasmania.	Manuscript,	3	pp.,	NS248/1/1-4,	Archives	Office	of	Tasmania,	Hobart.Shoobridge,	 H.	 W.	 (1947b).	 Henry Wanostrocht  Shoobridge,	 (MS,	 18	 pp	typescript,	signed;	private	collection).	Bushy	Park,	Tas;	17	September.Shoobridge,	H.	W.	(1947c).	Letter to Lady Balfour  from  ‘”Bushy  Park”.	 Manuscript,	2	 pp.,	 NS248/1/1-4,	 Archives	 Office	 of	Tasmania,	Hobart,	10	July.Shoobridge,	 H.	 W.	 (1947d).	 President’s Annual Report for Ten Months Ended 31st July  1947,	 The  Living  Soil  Association  of Tasmania.  Manuscript,	 3	 pp.,	 NS248/1/1-4,	Archives	Office	of	Tasmania,	Hobart,	25	September.Shoobridge,	 H.	 W.	 (1947e).	 The	 law	 of	return.	Organic Farming Digest,	1(7):	19-21.	Shoobridge,	 H.	 W.	 (1947f).	 The	 magic	 of	humus.	Organic Farming Digest,	1(6):	25-28.	Shoobridge,	H.	W.	(1949).	Fire	-	the	soil’s	worst	 enemy.	 Organic  Farming  Digest,	1(12):	5-12.	Shoobridge,	M.	(2002).	The Shoobridges in Van Diemen’s Land.	(2	pp;	unpublished	MS).Above:  Biblical inscription on a Shoobridge-family hop kiln (the Text Kiln).  Photos by John Paull.

Henry Shoobridge, Tasmania's Pioneer of Organic Farming

Henry Shoobridge (1874-1963) was the pioneer of organic farming in Tasmania. He was the founder and the president of the island's earliest organic advocacy group, the Living Soil Association of Tasmania (1946-1960). The Shoobridge family had emigrated from Kent, England in 1822 bringing with them the hops cuttings with which they established hops as a successful primary industry in Tasmania and Henry followed his forebears in this work. Henry Shoobridge attended The Friend's School, the Quaker school in Hobart. He was both a successful farmer and an accredited Methodist preacher.  At the age of 71 years, Henry Shoobridge founded the Living Soil Association of Tasmania (LSAT) at a public meeting in Hobart on 30 August 1946. The LSAT affiliated with the Australian Organic Farming and Gardening Society (AOFGS) which was founded in Sydney in October 1944, and with the UK's Soil Association which was founded in England in May 1946

Henry Shoobridge, Tasmania's Pioneer of Organic Farming

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