SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	$ 17,479,000	$ 28,017,000
Gain on sale of investments	0	3,399,000
Interest income	54,000	29,000
Total revenues	17,533,000	31,445,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	3,364,000	6,391,000
Impairment:
Impairment of real estate held for sale	316,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	10,209,000	7,686,000
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	1,580,000	(482,000)
General and administrative expenses	(8,551,000)	(8,026,000)
Interest expense	(315,000)	(664,000)
Gain on sale of investments	0	3,399,000
Interest income	54,000	29,000
Earnings before income taxes	2,977,000	1,942,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	3,715,000	4,923,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	41,553,000	54,770,000
Land investment
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates:
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	1,580,000	(482,000)
Intersegment elimination
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Oil and natural gas
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	9,008,000	20,298,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	2,987,000	5,968,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	(366,000)	5,416,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	3,512,000	4,824,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	7,298,000	20,951,000
Operating Segments | Land investment
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	3,244,000	636,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	3,244,000	636,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	7,480,000	7,039,000
Operating Segments | Contract drilling
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	4,886,000	6,287,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	272,000	309,000
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	922,000	952,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	124,000	48,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	2,338,000	1,849,000
Operating Segments | Residential real estate
Impairment:
Impairment of real estate held for sale	316,000	0
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	(316,000)	0
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	5,132,000	5,448,000
Corporate and Other
Revenues:
Total before gain on sale of investments and interest income	341,000	796,000
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization:
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization	105,000	114,000
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditure	79,000	51,000
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	3,257,000	3,379,000
Corporate and Other | Cash and cash equivalents
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	8,471,000	16,104,000
Corporate and Other | Restricted cash
Assets By Segment:
Total assets	7,577,000	0
Other operating (loss) profit | Corporate and Other
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	236,000	682,000
Gain on sale of assets | Corporate and Other
Operating (loss) profit (before general and administrative expenses):
Total operating profit (loss)	$ 6,489,000	$ 0