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Reminiscences of Francis Allan Oschar of life on Southern Yorke Peninsula, ca.1866-1920, including references to the salt industry and to farming.

"My name is Francis Allan Oschar. I was born at Warooka on York [sic] Peninsula on September 1^st 1886. Warooka in those days was a very small town we lived some nine miles from Warooka at a place called Para Wurlie, there was only a few families living there, scattered farmers. There was a very small school at the time. There had to be an attendance of not less than twelve children to keep it open, that was how I went to school at five years of age. The school was two and a half miles from our home thus the round trip was five miles for five days a week not bad for a five year old. We lived on what was known as Harwood Station in those days. That has all been altered many years since Harwood Station was owned by Mr. Henry R Fuller a former mayor of Adelaide, who has the distinction of being the first mayor of Adelaide to entertain a member of the Royal Family a former Duke of Edinburg [sic]. Ebenezer Ward was also interested in the property. Ebenezer Ward was a very well known politician of those days. The Station Home where we lived was a very large house. Twelve large and lofty rooms it had very high foundation with a verandah right around the whole building. It also had a very large Hall or Banquet room for Entertainment a stage for a piano. The families of the district would gather for parties, dances and other social events. Mr. William Fuller son of the owner was living in another large house about one and half miles away at the head Station. Bert Fuller another son was living there also. There was some grand old families living in the district such as the Players, Hammills, Geaters (?), Youngs, Grabias (?), Cadds, Barretts and so on. I will always remember Mr. Trehearne storekeeper from Minlaton who used to go around to all the farmers driving his old two horse van. Also the little town of Warooka with its little Post Office kept by the Misses Crofts, the Chemist kept by Mr. Keightley the hotel kept by the one and only David Ramsay. Mrs. Baker also kept a store. Albert Koop was the Village blacksmith, all very worthy people...." page 1-2.

Image is from the State Library of South Australia collections, B 32265 Baker Bros. Warooka, c.1910.

Oschar, Francis Allan, (1866-1920)

Yorke Peninsula, South Australia SA Tourism Commission

Yorke Peninsula, South Australia Wikipedia