Smith's Stump-Jump Plough
Large areas of southern Australia were covered with Mallee Scrub. Mallee scrub was difficult to cultivate as the roots were not completely removed through the traditional clearing methods of burning and cutting down. The tree would re-shot. The large roots would remain in the ground making it difficult to plough.
The South Australian government offered this land for sale for farming, The difficulties with the ploughing made it uneconomic. The government offered a 200-pound reward for the development of a machine to clear these roots.
Agricultural machinery apprentice Richard Bowyer Smith invented a plough to allow the Mallee scrub land to be furrowed. His brother, Clarence Herbert Smith improved the plough.
The original plough consisted of three hinged or pivoting blades which moved independent of each other. As the plough crossed the land and a blade encountered a an obstacle, it would jump out of the ground. Attached masses pushed the blade back into the ground when the obstacle is cleared. This allowed most of the ground to be furrowed.
Richard Smith’s first plough was called “Vixen”. Richard Smith demonstrated a single furrow plough that used a chain that dragged the blade back into the ground.
Others claimed that Richard Smith was not the inventor of the plough however the South Australian government investigated the claims and awarded Smith 500-pounds, a gold medal and 260 hectares of land near Ardrossan in 1882. He moved to Western Australia in 1884 and Clarence Smith continued to manufacture the ploughs in Ardrossan from 1880 to 1935.
Stump jump ploughs have continued to be used in Australia and overseas to achieve efficiency in the furrowing of farmland.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Heritage Engineering Marker (HEM) |
| Award Date | September 1987 |
| Heritage Significance | Clarence (Clarry) Smith manufactured stump-jump ploughs at Ardrossan from 1880-1935. Stump-jumping became an established principle on Australian tillage equipment which continues in more sophisticated forms today. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Not Available. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | Not Available. |
