Shamrock Gardens

In 2024, BACLG took a major step forward and purchased Shamrock Gardens, a freehold irrigation farm in the West Kimberley, with the goal of scaling up horticultural production to supply WA markets and provide employment opportunities for Bidyadanga residents.

Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community has a long history with Shamrock Gardens through its first owners Danny Fyffe and Jay Sims, who worked to build a market garden in the Bidyadanga community before moving to establish irrigated crops as a project with Shamrock Station, which was later sold to Galwey Horticultural in 2009.

Angus Galwey approached community members to provide a workforce for the farm when the COVID-19 pandemic restricted backpacker labour in 2020, and as a result, a partnership called Pijarta Produce was established in 2021.

Under the brand Bidyadanga Fresh Food, Pijarta trained local workers and produced watermelon and pumpkin to supply direct to the Perth market.

There are many qualities about Shamrock Gardens that appealed to the BACLG council – the farm is close by so people can work and return home each day, and it offers not only employment opportunities, but also career pathways for our members, enabling them to remain in the community and with family.

With some of the funding provided by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and commercial lending through Bank Australia, BACLG’s offer was accepted and Shamrock Gardens was purchased.

The future looks strong after a successful funding application was made with the West Australian government and further commercial financing sought to construct a shed and cool rooms on the property. This will provide options for crop selection and growth in the commercial potential of the property.