Council decides to sell off farm donated 'in good faith' to community
Boyup Brook locals say they were blindsided by the shire's decision to sell off a beloved farm donated to the community more than four decades ago.
Residents of Boyup Brook are outraged over the council's plan to sell off and lease a community farm donated 41 years ago by Eric Farleigh, a highly respected member of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA and a Hall of Fame inductee. The Shire of Boyup Brook maintains that they remain committed to open communication with the community.
The 596-hectare Rylington Park farm, valued at $1.3 million, was donated to the Shire by Eric Farleigh, who wished for the property to benefit the residents of the shire for research purposes. The farm, managed by volunteers for over three decades, was a crucial part of community activities such as field days, shearing schools, and agricultural research.
The council took control of the farm in 2020 but decided to wind down the operation by selling assets and leasing the property later this year. Retired farmer Richard Turner expressed disappointment, stating that the decision dishonored Eric Farleigh's legacy and the efforts of numerous volunteers. The council explained that the financial risk faced by the town with a population of less than 2,000 made it difficult to run the large operation.
Most of the land will be leased, while all equipment and livestock will be sold by early 2027, with the proceeds reserved for a future attempt to restart the farm. The decision has received mixed reactions from the community, with some expressing concerns that the council's actions go against the farm's original intent and Eric Farleigh's wishes.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
