Hartley Teakle

Who was Hartley Teakle?

Laurence John Hartley Teakle was Professor of Agriculture from 1947 until 1963 at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He undertook his academic training in both California, USA and Australia. His expertise lay particularly into soil quality and structure. From 1946-1947 he was the Western Australian Commissioner for Soil Conservation. He was a contentious Commissioner for his statements that some marginal parts of the state should not be settled. In 1964 he was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University and in 1969 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws.

He undertook work throughout Australia including for the National Capital Development Commission in Canberra in 1966 to determine whether forests could be harvested and still protect water quality. This was groundbreaking work.

He retired from the University in 1970. The Hartley Teakle building at the University of Queensland is named after him. He was married and had one daughter and three sons. He is grandfather to Birth Activist, Bruce Teakle. He is buried at the Pinaroo Lawn Cemetery, Aspley, Brisbane.