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OUR STORY: OSTER | 5
H Y D R O S M A R T

Bevan Oster, nephew Kaden Zerk, Jake Oster, Elden Oster, Charlie Oster and Hughie Oster, in the shearing shed in
the late 1990s. Picture supplied

BY VANESSA BINKS
Oster family
LITTLE more than 100 years ago, a
young Yorke Peninsula farmer cut his way
Athrough dense natural scrub with an axe LOCATION: Winulta
to begin the foundations of what would become FARMING SINCE: 1913
a family legacy that transcended the footprint of
farming. OPERATION: Broadacre cropping, contracting and beef cattle
From 1913 until 1943, avid diary-keeper Albert
Dutchke worked tirelessly to kickstart the family’s
farm and he documented this arduous journey grandfather documented a flourishing sheep As was expected of younger generations at the
everyday. enterprise. time, a very young Yvonne knew how to pull her
In a detailed journal, he provided details of his “His diary entries talked about water carting weight and she also possessed a love of farm
daily life and supplied a vivid log about his social from as far as Macs Beach and Winulta to supply life.
life and the land on which he lived, which would water for livestock and domestic use,” he said. With the help of sharefarmers and the
one day land in the hands of his grandson, Elden “These years were when the farm came into community, from 1943 to 1966, the land was in
Oster. production.” safe hands and remained in production.
Elden made it his purpose to carry on his But on November 1, 1943, at just 48-years old, “From about the age of 10 to 18 years
grandfather’s vision - with the addition of some his grandfather Albert met with an unfortunate old, Mum and her sisters took on a lot of
life-changing improvements, such as technology, fate. responsibility on the farm,” Elden said.
to make “life better” for future generations. Unbeknown to Albert, had a fatal heart condition “Each day, all of the daughters milked cows,
In those early years - in just three short years and he passed away alone on the side of the road picked stones, and looked after pigs, poultry and
- Albert helped to clear cropping and grazing after ploughing fire breaks. sheep.”
areas northeast of Port Victoria on the original “It was pretty tragic, it left a wife and three A general rule of thumb while Yvonne - and her
Dutchke homestead. daughters to continue running the farm,” Elden two sisters Gladys and Mavis - lived at home
Albert and his many brothers began farming said. was to work hard.
in this area and in later years, in the mid 1930s, This tragedy certainly could have blighted the They survived by selling milk, cream and other
Albert expanded to the West Coast of SA, while family’s future on the land but an unexpected produce straight from the farmgate.
his brothers remained in the Port Victoria area. beacon of hope was found. This time was particularly tough for the family
Albert was a visionary and in 1913, he took an Albert’s daughter Yvonne, Elden’s mother, had as they also cared for their unwell mother, who
opportunity to purchase and clear more land, farming in her veins and, for the remainder of passed away just six years after Albert.
next to his brother’s property at Winulta. her life, knew no other home than the Dutchke When all three daughters reached their mid
In his diary, he described 1913 to 1925 as homestead. 20s, as their lives took different directions, the
crucial years for production. “Mum stayed on the home block until her mid decision was made to divide up the land and
Elden said early diary entries from his 70s,” Elden said. each make a life for themselves.