# Eric Smart
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{{Use Australian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
Sir '''Eric Fleming Smart''' [OBE](/source/OBE) (12 October 1911 – 10 June 1973) was a [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia)n wheat-farmer, grazier, and local government councillor.[{{cite AuDB |first=John |last=Gladstones |author-link= |title=Smart, Sir Eric Fleming (1911–1973) |volume=16 |edition= |year=2002 |id2=smart-sir-eric-fleming-11715 |access-date=31 January 2020}}] His innovation achieved record grain and wool yields; he also pioneered modern agricultural methods for fertilisation and pest control.[{{citation |mode=cs1 |last1=Harvey |first1=Ben |last2=Hatch |first2=Daniel |title=100 most influential: The business leaders who shaped WA – 1829-2013 |url=https://info.thewest.com.au/westadvertising/feature/20131129/downloads/feature.pdf |publisher=The West Australian |archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20200127170436/https://info.thewest.com.au/westadvertising/feature/20131129/downloads/feature.pdf |archivedate=27 January 2020 |url-status=live |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}][{{cite web |title=SMART OBE Sir Eric Fleming |url=https://www.raswa.org.au/hall_of_fame/smart-obe-sir-eric-fleming-smart/ |publisher=Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia |accessdate=31 January 2020 |archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180327125254/http://www.raswa.org.au/hall_of_fame/smart-obe-sir-eric-fleming-smart/ |archivedate=27 March 2018 |url-status=live }}] Smart was knighted in 1966 for outstanding service to agriculture.[{{cite web |last1=Pendal |first1=Philip |title=Sir Eric Smart: The Farmer |url=https://parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/bdcebf6403782d9448257cae002a1d9c/1415b8239249100048257839002aa818/$FILE/MP354%20Pendal%20P.PDF |website=Westralian Portraits |publisher=|via=Parliament of Western Australia |accessdate=31 January 2020 |pages=280–285 }}]
==Early life==
Smart was born at [Narridy](/source/Narridy%2C_South_Australia), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), on 12 October 1911 to farmer Percival Horace Smart and his wife Lilian Louise, née Rogers. He was their third child. Smart attended Washpool Public School, and [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide%2C_South_Australia)'s [Prince Alfred College](/source/Prince_Alfred_College) as a boarder. As an 18-year-old Smart was [sharefarming](/source/sharefarming), and had a salt delivery business.[
==Farming and innovation in Western Australia==
With savings of [£](/source/Australian_pound)200, Smart moved to Western Australia in 1934 to a share farming opportunity at [Watheroo](/source/Watheroo%2C_Western_Australia).][ Despite the tough economic conditions, he grew his farming business throughout the [Wheatbelt](/source/Wheatbelt_(Western_Australia)).][ where he purchased a {{convert|10000|acre|adj=on}} station.][
Smart increased soil fertility through the planting of the Western Australian blue [lupin](/source/lupin), which would thrive in sandy conditions if [superphosphate](/source/superphosphate)s were used. Lupin had previously known for being sown in red soils near [Geraldton](/source/Geraldton%2C_Western_Australia) and [Gingin](/source/Gingin%2C_Western_Australia) to feed sheep. Smart was supportive of scientific research and allowed trials to occur at his property Erregulla Springs. Agricultural practices developed included introducing [clover](/source/clover)s after initial fertility increases, to increase productivity; pest control through aerial insect spraying; and using nitrogen to fertilise cereals.][ As of the 2010s, those techniques are still in use in modern farming.][
Smart was appointed [O.B.E.](/source/O.B.E.) in 1955, and was knighted in 1966 for his outstanding services to agriculture.][
Smart retired in 1966 due to his deteriorating health.][
Smart authored a booklet ''West Australian Wasteland Transformed'' in 1960, in which he explained his techniques and philosophy.][
He served several terms in [local governments](/source/Local_government_in_Western_Australia): [Wongan-Ballidu Road Board](/source/Shire_of_Wongan-Ballidu) from 1947 to 1949, [Mingenew Road Board](/source/Shire_of_Mingenew) from 1950 to 1956 and from 1958 to 1960, and the renamed Mingenew Shire Council from 1961 to 1967.][
Smart died on 10 June 1973 from a coronary occlusion, at his home in [Dalkeith](/source/Dalkeith%2C_Western_Australia). He was cremated with Anglican rites.][
==Legacy==
Smart bequeathed $200,000 to the [University of Western Australia](/source/University_of_Western_Australia) to continue his research, focusing on the use of lupins on land in the West Midlands.][ The university's Sir Eric Smart Scholarship is funded from Smart's bequest and a donation from his son Peter, and {{as of|2019|12|lc=yes}} had supported 20 students.][{{cite web |title=Research to improve broadacre farm profitability |url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/2019121011769/agriculture-research-economics-sheep-merino/research-improve-broadacre-farm-profitabil |website=University News |publisher=The University Of Western Australia |accessdate=31 January 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20191226000000/http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/2019121011769/agriculture-research-economics-sheep-merino/research-improve-broadacre-farm-profitabil |archivedate=25 December 2019 |date=10 December 2019 |url-status=live }}]
Smart was recognised as one of the most influential Western Australian businessmen in ''[The West Australian](/source/The_West_Australian)''{{'s}} 2013 list of the 100 most influential.