Farm Enterprises
Urrbrae Farm Enterprises
The enterprise areas of the Urrbrae Farm reflect the main areas of Australian agricultural production and include:
Alpacas:
Introduced 1996, the alpaca program focuses on the breeding and preparation of Suri and Huacaya alpacas for showing at various country show and the Royal Adelaide Show. Animals are shorn once per year and cared for by the Alpaca Club students and staff.
Aquaculture:
Boasts a purpose-built facility which includes recirculating freshwater tanks and external ponds. Foci of production and conservation of fish and crustaceans with a diverse range of species grown Barramundi, Rainbow Trout, Silver Perch. Aquariums – Exotic & Native Fish, Blue Yabbies and Purple Spotted Gudgeons.
Bees:
Urrbrae keeps many hives which assist in the pollination of the orchard, native vegetation and permaculture plantings. Honey extraction is a significant component of the enterprise with the honey sold through the canteen and Barn Markets. Students also construct and manage hives and can opt to register as beekeepers as part of the bee keeping program.
Cattle – Beef Cattle:
The Urrbrae Poll Hereford Stud was established in 1968 and enjoys significant industry support. The stud has focused on the breeding of quality animals utilising technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer. The Urrbrae stud shows animals at a range of country shows and the Royal Adelaide and Melbourne Shows. The Beef Cattle enterprise also incorporates the Led Steer program with industry donations of steers that are managed and cared for by students and then entered into the annual Led Steer Competitions.
Cattle – Dairy:
Focuses on the care and management of heifers for various shows. The Dairy industry provides quality animals for the program and mentoring and training opportunities for our students. Future development may include an automatic milking facility sponsored by the dairy industry.
Crops and Pastures:
Dry-land paddocks are sown for either hay production or improved pastures. The hay produced supports the supplementary feeding of our livestock enterprises. Crop trials are integrated across sthe farm to support agronomy learning programs. Irrigated pastures support the grazing needs of the livestock and lucerne production also provides hay over an extended period.
Goats:
The Boar goat flock was established in 1997 with the purchase of feral goats. These were bred to Pure Bred Boar bucks until pure Boer bloodlines were established. All stock meet MN1 status and the establishment of a Urrbrae Boar Stud is planned in the near future.
Horticulture:
Production horticulture incorporates a large orchard which is fully netted . The fruit trees are run as a commercial enterprise to ensure optimum production is achieved. The netting structure was built in 2000 and was renovated in 2023. Another large, netted area supports the vegetable production with Year 7 students developing and managing their own gardens with produce either sold at the Barn Markets or taken home for family enjoyment! Urrbrae also has a large number of olive trees which produce both olives for oil production and for preserving. Urrbrae enters the olive products in the Royal Adelaide Show each year with excellent results achieved.
Ornamental horticulture is supported a range of facilities such as a recently renovated and climatically controlled glasshouse, potting shed and nurser area for plant propagation projects.
Horses: Four stock horses form the nucleus of the mob along with progeny. Animals are selected for their docile nature for close and regular work with students. Breeding is determined by arrangements with studs and mares are put to stallion. Breaking in is usually done off site. Farriers and veterinarians are contracted as needed.
Pigs:
The piggery has been recently renovated creating a sustainable production facility with a straw-based system that minimises water use for cleaning and allows for the waste bedding to be converted to compost through our composting process. Litters of piglets are farrowed on-site and are then grown out for production. Urrbrae also benefits from sows and litters being allocated after the Royal Adelaide Show which are delivered to Urrbrae in September each year for care and management by our students and staff.
Poultry:
Urrbrae has recently invested in a mobile chicken caravan. The caravan provides a free-range environment for up to 300 laying birds which benefit from access to pasture and insects whist providing chicken manure to the paddocks! This system provides an excellent example of sustainable production practices to our students and wider community.
Meat Birds are managed from day-old chicks for 6 – 7 weeks by classes of Year 8 students. These are then professionally processed and sold via the canteen and Barn markets.
Specimen Breeds of poultry form the basis of breeding and show program. Students are involved in the selection, incubation and care of the various breeds of poultry which are shown across a number of poultry competitions.
Sheep – Urrbrae Suffolk Stud:
Like the Poll Hereford Stud, the Suffolk Stud was established in the same year 1968 with support from Suffolk breeders. Urrbrae staff consult with breeders when required, regarding ram and ewe selection/purchase. Artificial Insemination is utilised with genetics donated from recognised studs nationally. Urrbrae is the only school in SA that operates a Suffolk Stud and shows the progeny at show competitions across Australia.
Sheep – Merinos:
The Merinos wethers are generously donated each year by by Superior Wool Merinos, Tintinara. The wethers are cared for and managed by the students during the year and are then entered into the SA Merino Wether competition as part of the Royal Adelaide Show.
Viticulture and Wine:
The area of the Urrbrae vineyard has increased since 2000 with removal of orchard trees and the majority of table grapes have been replaced by wine grape varieties. The grapes are harvested and processed on-site by Viticulture and Winemaking students with approximately 8,000 bottles produced per year and sold via the front office or at the Urrbrae Barn Markets.
Urrbrae Farm Technical Information:
Topography and Vegetation:
The area is gently sloping, and all surface drainage runs NW to collect in swales to the Urrbrae creek before culminating in the Urrbrae Wetland. The farm area had minimal tree cover when established in 1932 apart from planted driveways and boundary tree lines from the previous owner Peter Waite. Trees have been established as shelter belts on the SW corners of paddocks and a major planting occurred in 1992 in a swales, creating a permaculture tree and bush plantation in paddock C.
Rainfall:
The mean annual rainfall of the farm is 622 mm with a marked winter incidence. The mean average April – October rainfall is 484.2 mm i.e. the growing season rainfall. The drought frequency is 1 in 100 years and the growing season is 7 months. Minor frosts can occur in May – June & August – September.

Temperature and Sunshine:
Mean annual maximum temperature is 20.9 degrees Celsius. The mean annual minimum temperature is 12.0. The mean annual hours of sunshine per day is 6.3.

Soils:
Soils are predominately Red Brown Earth which have hard setting surfaces which warrants treatment with gypsum and applications of organic matter mainly farm compost. The soil pH ranges from 5.6 – 6.4.
Land Capability Classes
Class 1:
Land capable of being used permanently for cropping provided minimum tillage is used and soil fertility maintained. There is little minimum water erosion hazard. Slopes range from 0 – 1.5%
Area: 26 hectares
Class 2:
Land with slight to moderate water erosion hazard but which can be used permanently for cropping provided soil fertility is maintained and minimum tillage and residue retention. Slopes range from 1.5 -4%.
Area: 2 hectares
Three contour swales have been built and tree crops planted on the contour lines (Paddock C)
Land Degradation Situation:
There is minor evidence of water and wind erosion in the past with minor rill erosion and paddock dust. Contour swales on Class 2 land has reduced water flow and increased soil water capture. Tree belts in SW paddock corners have reduced wind velocity from prevailing winds. Gypsum and organic matter are added, crop residue retention and minimum tillage practices are used.
Improvements
Water Supply:
The whole property is well watered by reticulated water and one dam. All paddocks are supplied with water making the property drought proof.
Irrigation feeds a number of paddocks;
- 8 paddocks overhead irrigation
- drip irrigation is installed in the vineyard and orchard
Fences:
The original fence plan was modified in 1998 and some further paddock subdivision in 2011. The condition of the fences varies from excellent to adequate and access to the whole property is very good. The perimeter is fenced with 1.8 metre security mesh.
Potential Yields and Stocking Rates
Potential is calculated using the French – Schulz model based on the April to October rainfall (Growing Season Rainfall). The GSR is 484mm.

Agriculture Staff
Assistant Principal – Agriculture | |
Agriculture Curriculum Coordinator | Farm Manager |
Agriculture Teachers (Full time – 9) | Farm Instructors (4) |
Agriculture Teachers (Part time – 4) | Farm Mechanic (0.6) |