Farm and Rural Gate Automation in the Hawkesbury and Hills
Getting in and out of the ute to open a farm gate is fine twice a day. It gets old fast when you are towing a float, moving feed or coming home late in the rain. Rural gate automation is about making that easier without creating a risk for the animals.
What rural gate automation covers
Farm gates are a different job to a house gate. Typical requests across the Hawkesbury, Kenthurst, Annangrove and the Dural rural fringe include:
- the main road entrance on a hobby farm or horse property
- an internal laneway gate between the house yard and the paddocks
- a gate into a stable yard or arena area
- a gate that lets contractors or agistment clients in at set hours
Most of these are galvanised steel or mesh-filled frame gates hung on timber or steel posts. Many are already in place and just need a motor, a power source and a way to trigger them.
Can an existing farm gate be automated?
Often, but the gate and posts need to be sound. Standard farm gates are hung on simple hinge pins, and the posts were set for a gate that gets pushed by hand. A motor puts a steady force on the post every cycle. Before automating, an installer will check:
- that the posts are solid and set deep enough, often with concrete
- that the gate is straight and swings without dragging
- that the ground the gate sweeps is level enough
- that there is a firm closing point or stop for the gate to close against
Lightweight gates suit linear arm motors designed for swing gates. Very long single gates can be hard on a motor, so a pair of shorter leaves can work better.
Horses, cattle and safety
Animals change the design. A gate that closes on a horse, or a horse that leans on a gate as it moves, can cause injury and damage. Things to discuss:
- Safety beams set at a height that suits the animals as well as vehicles
- Closing behaviour: for gates in paddocks, many owners prefer the gate does not auto-close, or closes only after a vehicle has cleared a beam
- Motor placement: keep arms and control boxes on the side away from stock, or guard them, so horses cannot chew cables or rub on the motor
- Electric fences: if electric fencing runs near the gate, keep it well clear of the gate wiring. The NSW exempt rules for rural fences refer to AS/NZS 3014 for electric fences
Our article on automatic gates with horses and livestock covers these points in more depth.
Power and triggers
Paddock gates are almost always solar. A panel on the post and a battery in the control box keeps everything off the mains. Triggers can include:
- remotes in each vehicle
- a vehicle loop or probe that opens the gate as you drive up from the inside
- a keypad on a pole at the right height to reach from a ute or tractor
- a GSM module so you can open the gate by phone for a farrier or feed delivery
Flood and weather
On the Hawkesbury floodplain, gates near creeks and low paddocks can go under water. Mount control boxes high, choose sealed connectors, and accept that a gate in a flood path may need checking after high water. Wind is also a factor in open paddocks, and mesh or open frame gates catch much less wind than solid ones.
Who does the work
We connect you with independent local installers who are used to rural work. They visit, quote and install under their own licences and insurance. If any mains power is needed, that part has to be done by a licensed electrician.
Request a quote to get started.
Why choose us for farm and rural gate automation
- Existing farm gates and posts checked before a motor goes on
- Closing behaviour set up with horses and stock in mind
- Solar power so paddock gates stay off the mains
- Remote, keypad, vehicle probe or phone triggers
- Control boxes mounted high on flood-prone land
Farm and Rural Gate Automation: common questions
Can I automate a standard galvanised farm gate?
Often, yes, if the posts are solid and the gate swings freely. Posts that were set for hand use may need replacing or concreting because a motor loads them every cycle.
Is an automatic gate safe around horses?
It can be, with the right setup. Safety beams at a suitable height, careful closing behaviour and guarding the motor and cables all help. Talk this through with the installer before the gate is commissioned.
What if my gate is on flood-prone land?
Mount the control box and battery as high as practical and use sealed connections. Have the gate checked after any flood, since water and silt can damage motors and electronics.
Planning a new gate or automating an old one?
Tell us about your property and we will pass your details to an independent local installer who works across the Hills and Hawkesbury.