Southee Pavilion

Southee Pavilion

Ethelbert Ambrock (Bert) Southee OBE, MA, BSc, BSc (Ag) was a specialist in plant breeding research and a leader in agricultural education. He was founder and first secretary-treasurer of the Agricultural Society of the University of Sydney, a founding member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (1935), and Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College (1921-1954). Somehow, he also found time to serve as a RAS Councillor (1923-1939) and as Vice President (1939-1968).

During his 45 active years with the RAS, Southee was at various times Chairman of the Scholarship and Educational Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Dairy Produce Committee, Chairman of the Rules Committee responsible for the complete revision of the Society's rules, President of the Agriculture Committee and Steward in Chief of the Judging and Cattle Attendants Competitions as well as serving on the Pigs and Poultry Committees.

Southee also served as the RAS representative on the Rural Youth Council of New South Wales for many years and in 1955 he was awarded the Farrer Memorial Medal for distinguished service to agricultural science in the fields of research and education.

Southee was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and was studying for his BA at Oxford until he was interrupted by war, and he served in the British Army from 1914-1919. He held the rank of Major and was awarded an OBE in recognition of his service. He went on to graduate with his BA and was later awarded a Master of Arts degree from Oxford.  

The Southee Pavilion is the Sydney Royal Easter Show’s horticulture pavilion and was officially opened by Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2014. This was not the first time the Southee name was honoured by members of the Royal family – Southee was the recipient of a Queen’s Coronation Medal in 1953.