Early in 1908 the Department of Agriculture obtained approximately 300 acres of land close to the Yanco Railway Station from Sir Samuel McCaughey to set up an experimental farm.
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Yanco Experimental Farm (YEF) was established to assess the viability of growing crops on the newly-established irrigation area and to provide training and advice to the new settlers.
Land preparation commenced with the assistance of Hawkesbury Agricultural College graduates and farm labourers.
Early plantings included fruit trees, cereal crops, lucerne, tobacco and grape vines.
Beautification of the entrance was highlighted with the planting of palm trees, native trees and sugar gums along the driveway, in the median strips and around the newly-erected buildings.
Prior to turning on the water into the Main Canal in 1912, water to irrigate the crops was supplied from the Murrumbidgee River via McCaughey’s irrigation channels.
A Farm School was established on the site in 1913 to train young men (many of whom were Dreadnaught boys newly arrived from England) as irrigation and agricultural assistants.
The advent of WW1 saw a number of employees and students enlist for military service.
At war’s end, the establishment of the Soldier Settlement Scheme provided the opportunity for returned men to take up farms.
It was a requirement of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (WC&IC) that the men complete three- to six-month courses at any Experiment Farm or have farming experience prior to taking up their farms.
Between 1928 and 1942 the Farm School was transferred to the Child Welfare Department and transformed into Riverina Welfare Farm for delinquent boys committed by the Children’s Court.
During WW2 the NSW Department of Agriculture took over the farm to provide vegetables for processing at Leeton Cannery to feed our forces serving overseas.
Towards the end of WW2, the site became Prisoner of War Camp No 15 (POW), commencing with 50 Italian prisoners.
More than 500 POWs were interred over the years it operated.
It was manned by 15th Garrison Battalion (which included several returning veterans) under the command of Major Harold N Snodgrass. The last POWs departed in 1947.
The site returned to the NSW Department of Agriculture and remained an Experiment Farm and Training Centre under various names.
Today Yanco Farm’s legacy continues as the site is used as a training venue and campus for Tocal College.