Armstrong Farmlands receives $125,000 RED grant to develop agritourism project near Narrogin

Armstrong Farmlands has been awarded a $125,000 Regional Economic Development grant to help fund construction of three short-stay tiny homes and a campground as part of an agritourism expansion project. Member for the Agricultural Region Shelley Payne paid a visit to the Armstrong family farm last week where she met with Angus Armstrong for a tour of the property. “The RED Grants program is another example of how the Cook Government supports regional WA,” she said. “I am so thrilled that Armstrong Farmlands have been granted this funding from round six for their agritourism project.” Located 30km from Narrogin in the Normans Lake area, a walk and bike trail established on the property in an earlier stage of project was significantly damaged in the February 2022 Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire. “The trail was up to 18 kilometres long but 12 kilometres were burnt, it got really badly hit,” Mr Armstrong said. “We’ve cleared a bit of it with volunteers but it definitely needs to be gone through, reshaped and rebuilt. Mr Armstrong said the RED grant will be used to develop the family’s sheep and wheat property into a getaway that allows visitors to experience life on the farm. “There’s a romantic idea of farming that I’d love to be able to share from the inside,” he said. “People would be able to see the crop, see the sheep. In terms of mountain biking the land is undulating and the idea is that people can have a ride or a walk and enjoy seeing the wildlife and the wildflowers.” Mr Armstrong is keen to make a move on the expansion project as soon as the 2023-24 harvest is over. “Since the bushfire, I haven’t had the time, even now we’re still repairing a water pipe from the damage, we’ve been flat out,” he said. “From what I see it does seem people are quite keen to do short stays and getaways through the Wheatbelt that’s probably not something that’s been marketed in a big way yet. “I think there’s a lack in the market and there’s definitely an opportunity to add more stops and stays, whether it’s on the tourist route to Esperance, a slight detour to Albany, for people to come down, get away and enjoy the country lifestyle.” While the project was dealt a blow by the 2022 bushfire Mr Armstrong has been able to take something positive from the experience. “It was pretty dramatic and had a huge impact on the farm, but once it happened it was a real kick-along,” he said. “You never know what’s around the corner, it’s now or never.”