The Dreadnought Scheme was a program designed to promote and assist the migration of British youths willing to become farm workers in Australia.
Funds which had been raised by public subscription for the purchase of a battleship were diverted to establish the Dreadnought Scheme when the Commonwealth instead decided to build an Australian Navy.
On arrival in Australia, the teenage boys were assigned to a state government farm for three months of agricultural training.
Here the boys learnt skills such as shearing, horse riding, cropping, dairying, butchering and farm equipment maintenance.
During the war the farm was used briefly for the detainment of 87 German citizens who had been taken from boats moored in Sydney Harbour.