AGY-2448 | Training Farm for City Lads (1905-1910) / Government Agricultural Training Farm, Pitt Town (1910-1913) / Government Agricultural Training Farm, Scheyville (1913-1940)

Full description

The Government Agricultural training farm commenced with the introduction of a scheme to alleviate unemployment amongst city youths in 1905. The boys spent one month attending the Labour Depot at Randwick daily for initial instruction followed by a supervised program of two months duration at the Casual Labour Farm where they gained practical experience in farming, dairying, piggery and poultry work. (1) It is uncertain whether the Labour Depot component of their training continued. The young men (most aged between 14 and 16) were accommodated in separate dormitories from the men and worked under a supervisor. Demand for the 'graduates' was high and demand outstripped supply by 1908. (2)

By 1910 the training scheme was known as Government Agricultural Training Farm. (3) The following year the Government Casual Labour Farm was closed and the Training Farm occupied the whole of the property (4). The Government entered into agreement with the Trustees of the Dreadnought Fund to migrate 20 English youths per fortnight to meet the demand for trained agricultural workers in New South Wales. The Government was to be paid £5 for each lad . The youths were to be aged 16-19, of good character and physique. The first 12 migrants arrived on 21 April 1911 and were followed by 27 others on 15 June. The Dreadnought boys were to receive £2, part of which was withheld until the end of their training and forwarded to them if they proceeded to the position assigned to them. If the supply could be maintained 500 young men per year could be trained.

The farm totalled 2,150 acres and consisted of living facilities for the young men, Farm Manager's residence, a killing room, butchers shop and a Post Office known as Scheyville. The farm was divided into paddocks for different purposes and consisted of a dairy, piggery, sheep section, farm section, orchard, vegetable garden, millet broom making plant, sawmill, blacksmiths, saddlers, wheelwrights, carpenter's and tinsmith's shops. (5)

In early October, 1912 the Manager reported that 361 youths had passed through the scheme during the year and had gone onto placement in various places within the State. 98 were still in training. (6) In February 1913 the name of the farm was proclaimed as Government Agricultural Training Farm, Scheyville. (7)

During World War I the farm was discontinued, but in 1919 61 youths were admitted as students. Severe drought in 1918-19 hampered most of the crops and dairy sections. However, work re-commenced in the orchard and in the poultry section (where a new incubator room was installed and the pens were enlarged). (8) In 1920 some ex-servicemen were admitted to the farm to diversify their skills, in addition to the youths. In this year an area of 21 acres was fenced, cleared and drained in preparation for planting with fruit trees and vines. The decision was taken to place less emphasis on poultry farming owing to disappointing results and the fact that few of the students expressed interest in that branch of primary industry. (9)

In November 1925 the Commonwealth Government undertook to pay half of the costs of the Training Farm operation and under the £34,000,000 migration agreement the British government agreed to pay one third of the approved maintenance expenditure. These arrangements enabled a building program to be undertaken in 1929. (10)

Although references are sparse it appears that boys from England continued to be migrated for the purposes of agricultural training at 'Scheyville' and the Experimental Farms conducted by the Department of Agriculture until at least 1938. There is also evidence that they were being recruited in 1935 when lantern slides and a film were borrowed for promotional purposes and that boys were being recruited overseas under the 'Big Brother Movement as well as on nomination from the Anglican Church in 1938. It would seem, however, that the majority of boys were recruited from metropolitan Sydney.

A Parliamentary Committee visited the farm on 29 July 1932. The Committee Inspected the dairy, crops, stock, piggery and observed the general management of the farm. They recommended the purchase of an additional site for the dairy and for fodder growing. There were then 116 boys in residence. Approximately 9 new boys commenced each week. Most were from the City and their average age was 18. (11) In addition to the practical training that they received during the day there is evidence that there were lectures in the evening by the staff.

From 4 November 1940 until 3 January 1945 the Farm was used by the military for artillery training purposes. (12)

Post script
Compensation was received for the damage which had been sustained by the property during the period of military occupation. Staff returned to the farm which was under the control of an Overseer. A huge task of re-establishing herds and recultivation in addition to re-equipping the entire farm lay before the management. The farm remained run-down overrun by rabbits and foxes. By July 1949 it was determined that the farm would be transferred to the Commonwealth Government for use as a Migrant Centre and in 1978 it became a campus of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College of Advanced Education. (13)

Endnotes
(1) Report of the State Labour Bureau of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June, 1906, p.21.
(2) Report of the State Labour Bureau for the year ended 30 June, 1908, Appendix F, p.46.
(3) Report of the State Labour Bureau of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June, 1910, p.11 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Second Session 1910, Vol. 2, p.13.
(4) Report of the Director of Labour State Labour Bureau of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June, 1911, pp.12-16 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Third Session 1911-12, Vol. 2, pp.616-20.
(5) Loc. Cit.
(6) Report of the Director of Labour, State Labour Bureau of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June, 1912, p.49, Appendix F The Manager of the Government Agricultural Training Farm 1 October, 1912. In NSW Parliamentary Papers 1912, Vol. 2, p 237.
(7) NSW Governmetn Gazette, 26 Febuary 1913.
(8) Report of the Department of Labour and Industry for the year 1919, pp.46-47 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Second Session 1920, Vol. 2, pp.993-4.
(9) Report of the Department of Labour and Industry for the year 1920, pp.42-43 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1921, Vol. 2, pp.820-821.
(10) Department of Industrial Relations. Special Files, 1930-1953 File 'Farm Buildings' NRS 5533 [5/3476].
(11) Department of Industrial Relations. Special Files, 1930-1953 Scheyville Training Farm, Report on Inspection of Scheyville Farm by the Parliamentary Committee 29 July 1932 NRS 5533 [5/3476].
(12) 'Military Occupation of Scheyville ' in Department of Industrial Relations. Special Files, 1930-1953 NRS 5533 [5/3480].
(13) Braithwaite, B M, Challenge and Change: The history of Hawkesbury Agricultural College 1966-1991, Hawkesbury Agricultural College Old Boys Union, 1991, p.73.