Cover image for Dr Donald Martin
Agency:
Dr Donald Martin
Agency Number:
Start Date:
07 Jul 1911
End Date:
28 Dec 2008
Description:
Donald Martin was born in Grenfell New South Wales in 1911 to Mr and Mrs C H Martin. He obtained a first class honours in Botany at Sydney University, winning the University Medal. He moved to Tasmania in December 1932 to join the CSIR Empire Marketing Board. He achieved a Masters of Science from Sydney University in 1942, and a Doctorate of Science from the University of Tasmania in 1955. ;;Dr Martin had a successful scientific career becoming senior Principal Research Scientist of the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, and Officer in charge of the Tasmanian Regional Laboratory, Hobart. His research focused on apples and led to improvements in orchard practices, fruit storage, and the successful export of Tasmanian apples to England. This had a major effect on developing Tasmanians capacity to export apples. He was also a researcher in the area of Eucalypts and their introduction to Britain, Ireland and parts of North America. Don collaborated with Claudio Alcorso from the early 1950s on the development of the viticulture industry in Tasmania. This interest continued after his retirement from the public service in 1976. He was on the wine committee at the Royal Agricultural Society from 1975 to 2001, and served on the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Board from 1970 to 1981. Dr Martin was also involved with the legal introduction of Pacific oysters to Tasmania;;Awards achieved during his career included Associateship of Honour of the Royal Horticultural Society of London (1965), the Royal Society of Tasmania Medal (1976), Order of the British Empire for scientific service to the apple industry (1978). ;;Dr Martin was a foundation member of Hobart Apex Club, as well as an early member and later President of the Hobart Walking and Ski Club. He married Enid Ruth Nicol, from Smithton, in September 1941. They lived at South Hobart. Don died aged 97 in 2008.
Information Sources:
Coresearch: monthly CSIRO staff news, January 1978; Canberra Times, 23/02/1965, p.8; Examiner 10/9/1941, p.2; Joan Rylah MP, Braddon, Inaugural speech, 6 May 2014; Interview with Dr Don Martin, State Library of SA, 14/05/2003, OH692/96.
Series Created By Agency:
NS6679 Papers of Dr Donald Martin04 Jun 192417 Nov 2004

NS6678 Papers and Talks Authored by Dr Donald Martin01 Jan 196702 May 2006