Pics From The Past | Agricultural High School Farm

By Geoff Allemand

Mar 1, 2024

A corner of the orchard: Couldn’t have picked a better day. Photo by Contributed

The Shepparton Agricultural High School was established in 1909 with an enrolment of 48 students. It was built in its present position facing Fryers St on land adjoining the state school grounds, the land having been acquired by the government years earlier.

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Shortly after the school opened, a separate unit of the school was established about a mile from the town in Grahamvale, known as the High School Farm. [Editor: Located in Doyles Lane, now Doyles Rd eastern side between New and Old Dookie Rds.] The irrigation authorities had not been functioning on this area of 56 acres when the government resumed using the land for educational purposes, but a model farm was soon established. For two years, it was used for dairying and cropping. Mr Ramsay was the first farm manager.

A lesson in the field: Students develop a passion for learning. Photo by Contributed

In 1911, irrigation methods were introduced, and the school functioned greatly in the interests of settlers, who, in addition to having children educated in latter years, enjoyed considerable benefit of practical advice and were able to buy the best of stock at a moderate rate from the farm, in the earlier years of development of their blocks. Stud bulls, pigs, etc at this farm improved the stock breed in the district.

“Mr W. Gilchrist managed the farm in 1912, and during his term, 25 acres of fruit, 10 acres of lucerne, 10 acres of permanent pastures, nine acres of cropping paddock and two acres of tobacco were developed. This unit of the high school was of great value to orchardists and farmers’ sons, as much work was done of an experimental and research nature on sprays, etc, while the practical work incidental to pruning, manuring and cultivating greatly added to the development of agricultural education in the district. Mr Gilchrist is still the farm manager.” (History of Shepparton by W.S. James, 1938).