Christian Brothers WA agricultural school with 12,000 hectares of land and mining potential listed

An agricultural school in Tardun, 140 kilometres east of Geraldton, with 12,275 hectares of farmland has been listed for sale.

The Christian Brothers Agricultural School Tardun closed in 2009.

The property comes with school buildings and infrastructure along with a 12,275-hectare farm consisting of cropping and livestock country.

The school buildings consist of a two-storey administration and residential accommodation building, along with St Mary’s Convent and Chapel.

The design of the school buildings was influenced by priest and architect John Cyril Hawes, whose works are prominent within the mid-west region.

There is also a range of general purpose and specialised classrooms, free-standing houses and residential accommodation, and service infrastructure.

The farm attached to the school was used by the students as part of their education, mainly focusing on cropping and sheep farming.

Half of the property is cleared and arable with the other half consisting of grazing areas, laneways, building surrounds and open space, shade, fence lines, dams, catchments and waterways, including the upper reaches of the Irwin River.

Part of the farm is currently leased at $115,000 per year. It’s a short-term lease to a local farmer who will farm it for just one season.

The area is has been the subject of investment by Australian and overseas investors, with iron ore, gold and other minerals found nearby.

Selling agents Jock Drummon from Landmark Harcourts and Damian Molony and Victor Sankey from McGees are marketing the property with various purchasing angles.

Possible ideas for the property include mining accommodation, personnel and heavy machinery training centre, community service centre, tourism accommodation or adventure outpost, camp or educational activities.

On a land basis, without the improvements, Sankey says the property could sell for above $3 million, but he says it’s very difficult to gauge a price.

“It is really difficult to say with this one. It’s got such different value to different potential users,” Sankey says.

“I’d say above $3 million, but the aggregate value with all the improvements is worth a lot more than that.”

He says there is potential mining interest in the property.

The Christian Brothers' Agricultural School was a Catholic secondary school with residential facilities for up to 90 students.

The 80 year-old school was predominantly a boarding school.

According to the school’s website, the hectare farm produced grain, mainly wheat, and carried nearly 7,000 sheep, 100 pigs and 53 shorthorn cattle.

Pigs were used to help augment the diet and the financial income of the farm.

The school was run by Edmund Rice Education Australia. At the time Edmund Rice executive director Wayne Tinsey said the school was operating at a loss, but that was not the reason behind the closure.