The Origins of the Granny Smith Apple

Fun Fact! According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), the Granny Smith apple traces to Maria Ann “Granny” Smith (1799–1870), an English-born orchardist who emigrated to New South Wales in 1838 and lived in the Ryde district. The ADB notes that descendants have disputed the details of the discovery of the apple variety, but it cites a 1924 account as the earliest and most authoritative. In 1868, Smith reportedly explained that a seedling growing by a creek on her property had developed from the remains of French crab-apples grown in Tasmania. Smith died before the apple was a commercial variety. Local orchardists sustained its cultivation, and in 1895 it was added to the Department of Agriculture’s list of fruits suitable for export.

Source: Martin M. Smith, Maria Ann (1799–1870). Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Published 2005. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-maria-ann-13199