“A packet of seeds. A legacy. That’s Arthur Yates.” This unassuming little seed packet holds the story of a man who transformed Australian gardening. Right here we stand near where his remarkable journey unfolded. Arthur Yates wasn’t just a seedsman. He was a visionary.
Born in England in 1861 Arthur suffered from asthma. Doctors advised a move to a warmer climate. He chose New Zealand. There he started a small seed shop. But his ambition soared beyond the shores of New Zealand.
In 1886 he visited Australia. He saw potential. He sent a salesman to Sydney to secure orders. He leased premises on Sussex Street. His younger brother Ernest joined him. Arthur moved to Sydney. The warmer climate suited him. His brother ran the New Zealand business.
Arthur married Caroline Mary Davies in England in 1888. They returned to Australia. They settled in Burwood a Sydney suburb. They named their house Didsbury after their ancestral home in Manchester.
In 1893 Arthur launched a range of packet seeds. They were perfect for Australian suburban gardeners. Two years later he wrote Yates’ Gardening Guide for Australia and New Zealand. It was a simple guide for amateur gardeners. It is still published today over a century later. His seed business became the largest in the colonies.
He built a warehouse and office on Sussex Street. He travelled to Europe seeking quality seeds. He established seed farms across Australia. Around 1907 he and his brother decided to operate separately. Their businesses shared the same name Arthur Yates & Co. Arthur’s sons later joined the family business.
Arthur Yates died in 1926. He was buried in Enfield Cemetery. His company continued. It operated as a family business until 1951. It was later bought by Orica for $45 million. So next time you see a packet of Yates seeds remember the story of Arthur Yates his ambition and his legacy. A legacy sown in a small seed packet. A legacy that bloomed across Australia.