Tocal Code of Land Use Practice

The magnificent Tocal property in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales stands as a testament to Australian agriculture and Australian farmers. It is now the site of Tocal Agricultural College. 

This book attempts to record a philosophy or approach to land use that leads to sustainability. The term ‘sustainability’ has become popular and over-used in recent years. It means different things to different people. One definition is ‘getting the best production from the land without limiting chances for future generations to do the same’.

Tocal aims to be a role model for rural industry. From its foundation, the College has been aware of the need to manage the land for long-term sustainability. The first property plan was drawn up in 1965, showing land capabilities, new fences, and structures to control erosion. The plan has been completely revised twice and is constantly evolving. New knowledge and experience is always changing our thinking. So we will always seek to implement best management practices for agricultural land use.

This book was written to support the Property Management Plan for Tocal. It is also intended for planning workshops, educational courses and for visitors to Tocal. This Code sets out the strategies and objectives used at Tocal to move towards sustainable agriculture.