Farmhouse rental

Farmhouse rental programs are a common method used by many rural Australian towns to attract new residents to live in their communities. The programs generally involve offering abandoned and often semi-derelict farmhouses for rent at a nominal price, often $1 per week.[1] The towns that offer such programs have generally undergone a significant decline in population. As a result, essential services for the area such as education and health are removed or reduced, creating a further, spiralling, population decline. By attracting new residents, the communities hope to reverse their demographic spiral.[2]

The modern farmhouse rental program began in the Central West town of Cumnock. The organisers there claim the program was successful; claiming the population of the town grew by 30 per cent and the local school hired a new teacher as a result of the 14 new enrolments.[3] As a result, the program has been adapted widely across rural New South Wales and beyond.[4] Similarly, the rural locality of Errowanbang saw its school's population rise above the two teacher threshold for the first time in its history.[5]

In 2011, the ABC produced a documentary following the farmhouse rental scheme of Trundle, "Country Town Rescue".[6]

Communities offering farmhouse rentals

References

  1. ↑ Williams, Samantha (2 February 2009). "Rent a Cumnock farm for just a $1 a week". Daily Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  2. ↑ "Want $1 rent? Move to the Mallee". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  3. ↑ "$1 rent adds to the lure of country life". Daily Telegraph (News Limited). 26 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  4. ↑ Vaz, Ellen (3 July 2009). "Christine farms out Cumnock rent plan". Central Western Daily (Fairfax). Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  5. ↑ http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/farmhouse-plan-boosts-rural-school/2361889.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/tv/countrytownrescue/about/
  7. ↑ "Cumnock". Rent a Farmhouse for $1 a week. rentafarmhouse.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  8. ↑ "Other houses". Rent a Farmhouse for $1 a week. rentafarmhouse.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  9. ↑ "Greenethorpe". Greenethorpe needs you!. Revive Greenethorpe committee. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  10. ↑ "Rent a farmouse - Ilford NSW". Ilford Public School P&C. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to Tallimba". Tallimba Advancement Group. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  12. ↑ "Rent a farmhouse". Tottenham: The Heart of New South Wales. tottenhamnsw.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  13. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/tv/countrytownrescue/
  14. ↑ "Tullamore "Rent a Farm House"". Tullamore Inc. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  15. ↑ "Wycheproof Farm Rental". Wycheproof 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-15.

External links

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