While most of the older generation have died and occurrences during those times have not been recorded to our knowledge, names like Jim Tiggeman, Ben Roberts and Dick Coleman would have stories to tell about harvesting natural oysters in the 1920’s using a rake and nets.

Whilst sparse, Dick managed to make an income from them..  It wasn’t until the 1930’s that a serious attempt to grow these molluscs was made in the Bight of the Bay, now known as Western Cove, however within a decade it was all over, the concrete structures used at the time still remain as a reminder.

Another attempt was made some twenty seven years later by a partnership of John Mack from the Camera Shop and Nigel Buick, a local fish processor, but the attempt to spawn spat from mature oysters was unsuccessful and later abandoned, however, Nigel went on to take up a lease at the Bay of Shoals.  As of today’s date, neither the lease or Nigel are with us.

The oyster originating from the Pacific Oyster was introduced into Tasmania during the 1940’s and the locals there have been farming them since 1960.

The oysters grown on Kangaroo Island are the Pacific Oyster, but are no longer purchased solely from the Apple Island .  Louth Bay Hatchery near Port Lincoln supply our requirements also.  Whilst Kangaroo Island is a very small fry in the overall picture in oyster growing, the industry is growing with three active farms in Nepean Bay near Redbanks, and another in American River, together they have the potential along with other producers on the Island such as marron, cray and finfish to mention a few land based farming to put Kangaroo Island up there with the best of them  and to rival the likes of King Island off Victoria.