Council Decides to Sell Community Farm
ABC South West WA
Topic: Rural and Remote Communities
Friday, 7 August 2026, at 9:05 am
Friday, 7 August 2026, at 10:17 am
A historic farm in Boyup Brook is closing down.
In short:
People in Boyup Brook are upset about the council's decision to sell a community farm.
The farm was given to the community 41 years ago by a famous farmer.
What's next?
The council says it will keep talking to the community.
A country council is in trouble for deciding to close a beloved farm.
The farm was given to the council by a local farmer.
He wanted the farm to help people in the area and for research.
The farm was run by volunteers for over 30 years.
It was used for community events and research.
The farm is about 30 kilometers from Boyup Brook.
The council took control of the farm in 2020 and decided to close it.
A retired farmer is upset about the decision.
He said it goes against what the farmer who gave the land wanted.
The council says it will still support the community.
The council is being questioned
A former chairman of the farm committee is speaking out.
He said the farm was successful and made money.
He was involved with the farm for 10 years.
The farm had improved a lot over the years.
By 2020, the farm was doing well with many events.
Many students learned skills at the farm.
The council said it was too risky to keep the farm open.
Most of the land will be leased, and the equipment will be sold.
The money from the sale will be saved to maybe restart the farm.
All the animals will be sold by January 2027.
The community is not happy with the explanation.
The council meeting was interrupted by the public.
The council wants to secure the farm's future.
A spokesperson said the council is focused on the future.
The agriculture sector has changed a lot.
Some research will still happen at the farm.
The spokesperson acknowledged the community's concerns.
The council wants to give the community accurate information.
The legacy of the farm is being questioned.
Many farmers are upset about the decision.
They say it goes against what the farmer who gave the land wanted.
Eric Farleigh was a pioneer in soil research.
The council released a statement from Mr. Farleigh's grandson.
He said he supports the council's new plan.
He believes the farm will still benefit the community.
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