In July 1948, the Hon. EH Graham MLA, Minister for Agriculture, announced the establishment of the Horticultural Research Station. The original station buildings were completed in 1954.

Between 1962 and 1964 a packing shed, an additional machinery shed and a manager’s cottage were constructed.

The Department’s district advisory service was provided from the station following the construction of an office building in 1967. Dareton became the first site where the delivery of the Department’s services was integrated.

In the early 1980s the Community Employment Program was introduced by the Commonwealth Government. This program financed, in part, a new office and laboratory building for research staff, and a new conference room which is used for grower meetings, small workshops and seminars.

The appointment of an Irrigation Officer to the staff at Dareton Agricultural Research and Advisory Station in May 1987 allowed the Station to expand its advisory services to the community by providing a technically based pool of knowledge on irrigation hardware.

Fisheries and Forestry officers are co-located at Dareton following the merging of departments in 2004.

Citrus propagation

In 1971, the Australian Agricultural Council adopted a program to provide and maintain a source of high-quality propagation material. The program is run by the Fruit Variety Foundation (FVF) and currently includes a number of crops including citrus. The citrus foundation planting for the FVF was established at Dareton Agricultural Research and Advisory Station in 1977, and is still maintained here.

The Station also has a major service function in supplying citrus budwood and seed to the Australian nursery industry. About 700,000 buds are supplied annually. Budwood was first supplied in 1972.

Commercial varieties that are supplied are of known virus status, and this is regularly monitored to ensure quality of material. Budwood of other citrus varieties is also supplied, as well as over 700kg of citrus seed. Auscitrus (Australian Citrus Propagation Association) is an independent organisation working in association with NSW Agriculture at Dareton.

Grapevine propagation

The Dareton Agricultural Research and Advisory Station also maintains grapevine plantings for the Victorian and Murray Valley Improvement Association.

Several hectares of grapevine rootstock and scion varieties are managed for the production of high-quality, known-health-status propagation material for use by the viticultural industries.

National Germplasm collection

The national germplasm collection of grapevine varieties was also established at Dareton Agricultural Research and Advisory Station for the Australian Vine Improvement Association with initial plantings in 2003.