Charles Walter Harper (27 January 1880 – 1 July 1956) was an Australian agriculturalist who was prominent in the cooperative movement in Western Australia. He was one of the founders of Wesfarmers, serving as its chairman from 1921 to 1953, and also helped establish what is now CBH Group.
Early life
Harper was born in Guildford, Western Australia, the son of Fanny (née de Burgh) and Charles Harper. His father was a landowner, newspaper proprietor, and member of parliament.[1] Harper was the oldest of six sons and four daughters; two of his younger brothers would be killed in the Gallipoli Campaign.[2] He attended Hale School and Guildford Grammar School, and then moved to the United States for a period to study fruit-growing industry in California. After finishing his education, Harper took over his father's estate at Woodbridge. He married Margaret Drummond in 1910; they had six children together.[1]