A Vision for Agricultural Education

In the early 1950s, a group of forward-thinking local citizens began lobbying for the establishment of an agricultural school in the Harvey region—one that could offer boarding and education for boys keen to pursue a career in intensive agriculture. Inspired by the success of similar schools in Denmark and Narrogin, the group identified two potential sites: land on the northern side of the Wokalup Research Station, which offered fertile ground but lacked infrastructure; and the site of a former wartime internment camp to the north of town, which had solid buildings but no surrounding farmland.

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The latter was chosen and a boarding school for boys was set up under the administration of the Harvey Junior High School.  Students were then ferried to nearby farms for their practical sessions. 

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From Internment Camp to Agricultural School

The selected site was originally the Commonwealth Rural Training Centre, which had been used as an Italian internment camp during the Second World War. Remnants of this era remain etched into the campus today, with Italian stonework, sculptures, and features like the wishing well, Romulus and Remus statues, a small shrine on the former golf course, a cellar beneath the cactus gardens, and a fish pond that still exists.

 

After the war, the site was repurposed under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme to rehabilitate returning servicemen.

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Establishing the School

In 1952, the Education Department purchased the site for use as an agricultural school. That Christmas, Mr. J.H. Barton was appointed Headmaster of what would become the Harvey Agricultural Junior High School. In July 1953, the Agricultural Advisory Committee was established, with Messrs E.K. Cooling, J.M. Clifton, and F. Byrd as founding members.  Most of 1953 was used to ascertain the boundaries of the school with the eventual demarcation in August 1954; Korijekup Estate No 24002, Lot 277, 62 acres.

 

By February 1954, the school opened its doors to 16 students. Initially, students were transported to nearby farms to complete the practical components of their education, as the school had no farmland of its own. Over time, surrounding parcels of land were acquired, eventually forming a well-developed 200-hectare farm used for student training.

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Growth, Progress, and Inclusion

Originally a boys-only boarding school, the campus remained male-only for several decades until the 1990s, when girls were first introduced into the program—marking a key step towards gender inclusivity in agricultural education.

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In January 1998, the Agricultural Wing of Harvey Agricultural Senior High School officially separated to become an independent College. It joined the ranks of other standalone agricultural schools in Narrogin (1981), Cunderdin (1983), Denmark (1990), and later Morawa (2001). That same year, Mr. Neale Armstrong was appointed as the first Principal of the newly independent College.

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A New Era: Wokalup and Beyond

Later in 1998, plans were announced by the Water Corporation to expand the Harvey Irrigation Dam to improve water supply to the South West Irrigation District and revert much of the water from the Stirling Dam for potable water for Perth’s South West Corridor. This led to the acquisition of around 125 hectares of College land—effectively reducing the College ability to function.

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However, in September 1999, after extensive consultation and negotiation, the Education Department purchased the Wokalup Research Station, including its land, buildings, and livestock, for $5.4 million and cattle valued at $329,000. This acquisition, supported by the Minister for Agriculture Mr Monty House and the Minister for Education.

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Registered Training and Industry Standards

By December 1999, the College had become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and began certifying students in Agriculture. From that point forward, all Year 11 and 12 students had the opportunity to achieve Certificates I, II and III in general and specific areas of agriculture.

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Training also expanded to include industry-specific technical subjects, using the Wokalup farm as a practical training ground.

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In April 2000, Harvey joined the newly formed WA College of Agriculture, which united five agricultural colleges across the state. Although RTO status was briefly removed from all schools by the end of 2001, Harvey underwent rigorous validation to regain its certification. In May 2002,the WA College of Agriculture was officially reconfirmed as a Registered Training Organisation— the only school to do so at the time.

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Expanding Opportunity: The Growth of the College in the 2000s

In 2005, the WA College of Agriculture – Harvey took a bold step by welcoming a trial group of Year 10 students. This initiative made Harvey the most diverse campus among the WA Colleges of Agriculture. Following the trial’s success, the program continued and was expanded in 2006, officially establishing a three-year course structure that remains a foundation of the College’s learning pathway today.

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Key Milestones and Major Developments

The 2000s were a decade of exciting growth, development, and innovation. Below are some of the major achievements that shaped the College into a leading institution for agricultural education in Western Australia:

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January 2000

The College officially became a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), allowing students to gain nationally recognised qualifications in Agriculture and associated industries.

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April 2001

A new dairy facility was launched at the Wokalup site, designed to supply one million litres of milk annually to the WA market. This development also marked the start of a new residential model, with students living independently in a refurbished house at Wokalup, not only to staff the dairy and but develop practical life skills.

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2003

Compensation from the expansion of the Wokalup Dam was used to invest in critical infrastructure, including the installation of a modern centre pivot irrigation system—enhancing the College’s ability to teach sustainable water management and crop production.

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2006

A specialised shearing shed and training facility was built to support the sheep and wool programs, giving students access to industry-standard training in shearing, sheep handling and wool production.

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2010–2012

Significant Infrastructure Investment

2010: Construction began on a $3 million Metal Trades Training Centre at the Wokalup farm.

Late 2011: The facility reached practical completion, with students starting classes in Term 1, 2012.

2010: also marked the start of a $26.4 million whole-of-school rebuild, one of the largest investments in the College’s history.

Mid-2012: The Design and Technology buildings were completed in Term 2.

Term 3, 2012: The new, purpose-built College campus at Wokalup was completed, uniting staff, students, and learning facilities on one central site for the first time.

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These achievements laid the groundwork for the modern WA College of Agriculture – Harvey: a place where tradition meets innovation, and where students continue to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in the agricultural industries of tomorrow.

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