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Construction has officially begun on the long-awaited Richmond Agricultural Centre, delivering a world-class education in agriculture and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as part of the NSW Government’s plan to rebuild public education.
The centre will be co-located with Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus and will cater for approximately 360 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Facilities will include modern classrooms, five science laboratories, farming facilities, a greenhouse, a multipurpose hall, a canteen, administration areas and a Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA).
The milestone follows the NSW Government securing a new site after the former Liberal-National Government’s proposed location was found to be contaminated and unsuitable for agricultural education.
“It’s great to see the vision of the former Liberal/National Government start to take shape and I’m excited for the staff and students who have been eagerly watching the construction that is underway. It’s a proud progression of our first selective school in Hawkesbury,” said Robyn Preston MP, Member for Hawkesbury.
Susan Templeman MP for Macquarie who represents the people of Hawkesbury in the Australian Government said she was pleased to mark the start of construction on the new centre.
“I was delighted to represent the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Prue Car, at this significant milestone for the Richmond Agricultural Centre,” Ms Templeman said.
“It was great to speak with the site workers, some of them locals, about the unique design, and to see this major investment by the NSW Government in public education. The new centre will make it even easier for students in the Hawkesbury to access world-class agricultural and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.”
The Richmond Agricultural Centre will relocate from its current temporary facilities at the WSU Hawkesbury campus to the new permanent site when it opens on Day 1 of Term 1, 2027.
The centre will continue to operate in partnership with Richmond High School, with Agricultural STEM selective and specialty students attending the centre three days per week and Richmond High School two days per week. This model gives students access to both specialist agricultural facilities and broader high-school programs, while building strong links with the university and industry.
Principal Kristine Beazley said the project was a major step forward for students and the wider community.
“Today marks a key step towards delivering a much-needed, purpose-built facility that supports our students’ futures and strengthens our links with industry, TAFE, and university partners,” Ms Beazley said.
“Richmond Agricultural Centre offers agricultural and STEM learning opportunities to students, with partnered learning experiences with academia and industry, preparing the next generation of scientists, agribusiness and data experts, agriculturalists and innovators to meet the challenges of a changing landscape, from sustainability to food security and emerging technologies. It’s fantastic that we will soon have a new permanent home for our school and we can’t wait to see construction progress.”
The project forms part of the NSW Government’s record $9 billion investment in new and upgraded schools across NSW, including $3.9 billion in Western Sydney. At the same time, the Government has reduced teacher vacancies in NSW public schools by 61 per cent since 2022, helping ensure a qualified teacher is in front of every classroom.
