The Araluen farm mechanisation scheme was officially opened on Friday 10th November 1944 by the NSW Minister of Agriculture, Mr E.H. Graham.
The mechanisation scheme introduced across the state was predicated on the idea that farmers could be more productive if they could have access to modern machinery and equipment without the need to outlay their own funds. Machinery pools were set up via interest free government funds administered by farmer controlled cooperative societies. Initially the scheme was intended for dairy farmers to increase milk and milk products production but soon was expanded to other types of agriculture.
The government realised that post war recovery would be assisted by the adaptation of modern farming practices.
There was no fixed term for repayment of the funds but should the Cooperative fail the machinery would be reclaimed by the lender of the funds (the Rural Bank) and sold.
The driving force behind the scheme in Araluen was Miss Mollie Collins who saw the potential of agricultural development in the valley. Early in 1944 Mollie was advocating for an irrigation scheme in the valley, the building of homes for farmers and the formation of a cooperative rural society.
At this time the Commonwealth Government was sending out inspectors to assign areas for food production and Mollie was instrumental in getting an inspector, Mr Harold Major, to visit the valley and she personally accompanied him for his 2 day visit.
Following this visit a Vegetable Seeds Committee was formed which led to government contracts to grow French bean seed for 1945 with prices fixed at £3 per bushel with the government supplying the seed. Araluen was viewed favourably for growing as it was a known disease free area.
Mollie Collins came to Sydney to investigate the mechanisation scheme and successfully secured finance through the Rural Bank to finance the scheme for £4,000. However because Mollie was not a rural producer and also as she was a woman, she was not eligible to form the Araluen Rural Cooperative Scheme which was required to access the funds from the mechanism scheme. The Cooperative Society was eventually formed allowing the mechanisation scheme to proceed.
When the Scheme started in Araluen there was only one tractor in the valley, an old Fordson with spiked metal wheels which came from Nowra where it had been used for the construction of an airstrip.
Unfortunately the Cooperative and the Scheme didn’t last due to acrimony and ironically, a lack of cooperation but mechanisation had arrived and fruit and vegetable production in the valley was increasing.
References:
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal, 8 September 1944 and 21 December 1951.
The Farmer and Settler, 18 May 1945.