Tom Cole (farmer)
John Thomas Cole | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Jamberoo, Australia |
| Died | May 13, 1927 (aged 72) Glebe, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Cattle breeder, dairy farmer |
| Known for | Prominent Australian cattle breeder and dairy farmer; leader of Milking Shorthorn breed faction; advocate for dairy sector cooperatives |
John Thomas Cole (2 November 1854 – 13 May 1927) was a prominent Australian cattle breeder and dairy farmer.
Originating from Jamberoo, he was the son of emancipated farmer William Cole and Annabella Mackenzie. Beginning in 1876, he collaborated with his brother Jim in livestock exhibitions before expanding his landholdings and exhibiting cattle on his own. In 1882, he married Margaret Thorburn, and in 1889 he wed Agnes Dixon Lamond, with whom he had a daughter. Cole held the position of alderman in Kiama between 1882 and 1890 and stood as a Free Trade candidate for the Kiama seat in both the 1889 and 1895 elections, though without success. He moved to Nowra in 1895 and subsequently settled in Sydney, where he became an active advocate for the dairy sector and promoted cooperative efforts throughout the colony.
Starting in 1899, Cole oversaw the Scottish Australian Investment Company's agricultural properties near Adaminaby, incorporating his own Illawarra cattle stock. In 1907–08, he relocated these operations to Darbalara. As a leader of the Milking Shorthorn breed faction competing against Illawarra Dairy Cattle lines, Cole’s herd secured the majority of breed accolades during the 1910s and early 1920s. A 1915 account emphasized his achievements with Camellia II, a prize-winning Shorthorn milker.
His Darbalara herd was pioneering as the first to be subjected to routine government testing and garnered considerable attention. One cow from his herd twice broke global production records, leading to recognition by the New South Wales Chamber of Agriculture in 1925 for outstanding contributions. The Darbalara strain maintained its status as the leading butterfat producer worldwide well into the 1950s.
Cole retired in 1926 following the discontinuation of the Darbalara herd. He passed away at age 72 in Glebe in 1927. His will was processed through the Supreme Court of New South Wales.