The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has announced that its Primary Industries Institute in Wollongbar on the far north coast is celebrating its 125th year as a leading centre for primary industries research.
To mark the event, an open day will be held at the institute on 24 August with guided tours, hands-on activities, historical displays, and information on the latest research discoveries.
Director of the institute, Mark Hickey said that when Wollongbar became the site of the second experimental farm in NSW in 1894, its purpose was to test fruit crops, grasses and dairying suited to the subtropical climate. A picture from its earliest days is on this page.
“Wollongbar is now a modern institute located on more than 500 hectares of prime agricultural land, part of a network of DPI research facilities across the State,” Mr Hickey said.
“Today the institute continues to support primary industries with approximately 100 staff working in the field and in laboratories.”
He said the institute supported profitable and sustainable agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and rural communities through research, compliance, education and industry engagement.
He said displays and activities at the open day will include horticulture, beef cattle operations, the cattle tick program, a fisheries activity trailer, soils research, water testing, drones, rainforest walks, timber plantations, entomology, biosecurity and invasive species.
In addition, staff at the institute plan to hold masterclasses for members of the community throughout August, highlighting some of the research undertaken there.
Mr Hickey said an anniversary dinner would be held on the evening before the open day for all ex-staff members to attend.
