09/10/2026
KEANEY COLLEGE
Now known as –
CATHOLIC AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE – EDMUND RICE COLLAGE
Keaney College – Historical article
The magnificent group of buildings that comprise the Catholic Agricultural College north of Bindoon are listed as of Heritage value in the Shire of Chittering Town Planning Scheme No. 5.
The impressive Spanish style buildings are a remarkable monument of great architectural interest. Sadly, there has been much adverse publicity surrounding the social history of the Catholic Agricultural College and it is not the purpose of this series of articles to become involved in the social part. We merely wish to record the founding of this important part of Chittering’s heritage. Of Brother Keaney, it is sufficient to state the Shakespeare quotation “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones”.
On August 11th 1936 Catherine Musk donated one of her farms “Mt Pleasant Station” to Br. Keaney and the Christian Brothers to be used as a farm training centre for orphan boys. The property was 6800 hectares approx 95 kms from Perth.
The Christian brothers called the property St. Joseph’s “Boys Town”. Over the next few years a small staff of Brothers stayed on the farm reorganising the farm and getting it ready for some boys to come. In 1940 work began building the first wing of the school, by orphan boys from Clontarf and Tardun, and in Sept. 1941 the building was officially opened.
During the war the Military Authorities commandeered Clontarf and all the boys there had to be transferred to Bindoon and Tardun. This gave the need to construct more of the building, all done by the boys and Brothers under the guidance of Joe Pascoli and Father Urbana from New Norcia who was the architect. An airstrip was constructed on the property by the Allied Works Council for use by RAAF and USAF planes from Pearce Air base and because of this association a lot of service men went to “Boys Town” for R & R during the war.
In 1947 the first migrant children arrived; 20 children in September and 64 more before the end of the year. By 1948 a temporary convent had been made and 2 Benedictine Sisters came to help care for the boys. In March 1950, the Boys Town Chaplain completed the art work on the five sets of “Stations of the Cross”, that were then erected along the main drive. The Chaplain also worked on a magnificent memorial Shrine of the Holy Family which was erected in remembrance of Mrs. Musk, then only recently deceased.
Easter Sunday 1952, the foundation stone was layed for the new Chapel. The statue of our Lady of Fatima, on a world wide pilgrimage, is carried in procession around the grounds. This ceremony is held every year with people coming from far and wide to celebrate Easter at the Catholic Agricultural College.
By 1966 the Migration Scheme came to a close and the future of “Boys Town” had to be decided. Pupils from country areas began coming to the school as boarders to learn Agricultural studies. This was the beginning of the Catholic Agricultural College as we know it today.
Researched by Tony Webb – Chittering Times 1995/1996
Edmund Rice College has now closed its doors, and the historic property is up for sale. Hopefully, its next owners will see the potential in these beautiful old buildings and breathe new life into them, creating something truly special for the Shire of Chittering and its residents.
