thirteen research farms stations operated western_australia addition research historical buildings farming equipment museum operates agriculture education centre introducing primary school children farming teaching history western_australia situated land joins kilometres northwest located land originally granted governor western australia captain later admiral sir captain grants combined additional land purchases known expanding excess acres km2 april remaining acres km2 passed initially continued involvement research activities commenced 1930s laboratory successful research western_australia celebrations machinery museum built buildings restored original condition early farm years november expedition led governor joined party led surveyor general king george sound arrangement parties return colony alternative route route intended join settlements king george sound york colony newly established settlement williams expedition passed area sighting granite hill december primary reference point surveying region surveyor returned area principal reference watson map number lots area including western boundary town site lots surveyed location acres km2 acres km2 location given captain location given governor harbour master paid salaries colony given land grants compensation services current equipment engaged determine exact location original holdings commented remarkable accuracy watson survey years sold grant land september carey entered lease agreement december governor grant included carey purchasing property end lease carey purchased acres km2 west location received additional grant land land formed property acres km2 size named late 1840s carey moved leaving operated unknown carey death march inherited year old grand nephew arrived took residence assumed land title pastoral property arrival years sections estate sold fund development period house expanded stable built included horse stalls hollow walls overhead hollow walls enable feed directly feed stall remaining acres km2 sold brothers purchased adjoining properties adding acres km2 enlarged acres km2 offered sell acre government countered offer acre accepted purchased march agricultural land purchase act total equivalent approximately butcher brothers farming operations continued january government began preparations subdivision sent april locate improvements draw subdivision lines following existing fencing possible arrival sparked considerable controversy set camp golf course golf club leased acres joined edge town investigations found lease terminated land sold hall divided substantial size farms boundaries remained unchanged acres occupied golf course small lots subdivided calculated sale lots return expenses estate land available december substantial lots taken settlers unable pay acre price lot taken father mining magnate george brother richard took lot lot taken lot taken premier sir proceeded london plans agent general newton offer prospective settlers lots number telegram inquiries availability lots sent record lots allocated london remaining substantial lots taken november suggested remaining responsible continuing farm remaining lots left lot known available farmer tried lease losing property drought unable negotiate acceptable rate december brothers abandoned lots abandoned lot known exactly leaving acres km2 lot private hands outbreak world war plans abandoned near end community requested subdivided lots returning soldiers suggested nursery soldiers given small succeed given larger grants state july decided lots available servicemen area acres km2 included area homestead remain control original homestead block faced uncertain future years given initially intended production pure seed wheat little produced years assembly holding ground dairy cattle prior sent group settlers state period built capacity tonnes heritage listed local farming community raised concerns cattle unsuitable area concerns immediately addressed turned seed production research research began application alternatives timing application initial results published research like disease originated region years spread state farming districts flock losses generally reported cases loss professor identified disease origin unable establish source appointed state commenced immediate investigation disease open space department city offices house sheep needed research field laboratory built flock sheep purchased enable feed experiments identified cause disease knowledge able develop infectious efforts received sheep populations required afforded additional research opportunities years experiments conducted object determining best produce prime export investigated breeds cross breeds determining cross bred significantly productive pure bred teamed state botanist study toxic effect native plants species sheep collect plants supply fresh feed sheep confirmed species plants poisonous native genera based later research published toxic plants western australia investigations effects male mechanical compared knife methods replaced rubber rings experiment sheep concluded significant differences respect mortality maturity rates meat quality began research mid-1930s sheep flocks initial research effects wool growth followed research investigations sheep experiments years 1940s studied value hay pasture sheep ongoing results studies hay production western_australia published world war farm provided research farming western_australia suitable location growing varieties crown early variety italian early mid season variety discovered susceptible greater damage occurring later season early trails ddt said promising results efforts pioneering development use banks equipment required team horses labourers 1950s monitored sheep flocks research strain livestock feed effect fertility 1960s 1970s involved breeding trial crops use western_australia early 1980s focused environmental sustainable farming farm income supplemental alternatives like farming like western australian farms utilised horses particular pulling farming equipment farm economics 1930s meant weren retired enjoy governments grassy letter agricultural minister details disposal horses longer useful regard horses station old incapable work request approval animals instead destroyed station available zoo authorities lions food letter details responsible freight minister approved transaction follow bay note description lions food freight practice continued 1950s replaced use horses farming opening museum utilised demonstrations old equipment horse sold pets incapable working present preparations western_australia celebrations decided restore historic farm original state display achievements western australian farmers response announcement farmers state responded donations old machinery equipment machinery restored mechanics invitation visit open agricultural displays sent accepted march officially opened commemorative tree planting near entrance farm farm continues research improving farming farm practices western australian conditions displays open public picnic facilities available included displays original homestead stables complete machinery shed road maintained farm information boards explaining current usage
Avondale Agricultural Research Station