Mr Andrews and a dozen supporters remain at the iconic Bylong Valley property to oppose Kepco’s proposed coal mine, and while NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman is being lobbied to place an interim heritage order over the site.

About 400 people attended an open day at Tarwyn Park on Sunday to oppose the proposed mine and support preservation of the site where Mr Andrews pioneered natural sequence farming.

The open day was a wake, a celebration and a rally where Mr Andrews cried while talking about years of being shunned by the farming establishment and the toll it had taken on family relationships.

He continued fighting for his unorthodox methods using natural hydrology and vegetation to transform the farm’s degraded landscape despite being called mad, he said.

“Maybe I am, but I’m going to keep going,” he said.

Author Sharyn Munro, who has chronicled the impact of mining on individuals and small communities in Australia, said she had wanted to call her book, Coal Wars, because of the toll negotiating with mines had taken on families like the Andrews.

Stuart Andrews, who bought Tarwyn Park from his father in the late 1990s, sold to Kepco in 2014 after three years fighting against mine exploration on the property. An eight-year lease was not renewed at its first two year renewal point which expired on July 31. Kepco said the company and Mr Andrews could not agree on renewal terms.

Lock the Gate Alliance Hunter coordinator Steve Phillips said Tarwyn Park was a special place and people were upset to think it was threatened by coal mining.

“The commitment of the community to the protection of this magnificent historic property and its unique heritage values is highlighted by the fact that a dozen or so visitors have chosen to camp out overnight with Peter Andrews to demand its protection” Mr Phillips said.

Robert Irwin first visited Tarwyn Park 30 years ago as a work experience student. He was angry that the property was threatened by a new mine.

“My biggest frustration is that I don’t think political parties that say they represent farmers are doing anything. When it comes to coal mines it seems both sides of politics can’t see what it’s like out here for people left to deal with it,” Mr Irwin said.

Bylong Valley Protection Alliance spokesman Craig Shaw said his group was extremely concerned at the fate of Tarwyn Park once Kepco took over.

“KEPCO has said it will maintain NSF principles at Tarwyn, but we have no reason to believe them. There is nobody at Kepco who knows the first thing about Natural Sequence Farming,” Mr Shaw said.

“Tarwyn Park must be protected, and we are calling on Minister Speakman to help make this happen,” he said.

A Kepco spokesperson said the company had committed to undertake a comprehensive study into soil hydrology at Tarwyn Park as part of its application.