David Anderson can look back over generations of agriculture on the island, from the early clearing and drainage schemes to the soldier-settlers and the advent of modern, sustainable systems. But his proudest moment might be one blistering run down the straight by a thoroughbred named Glass Warrior.

His family arrived on the island in 1953 after his father, a returned serviceman, was allocated one of the first Soldier Settlement farms at Fairhaven. As an eleven-year-old, David witnessed firsthand one of the most significant periods of change in the island’s history, when families from across Australia arrived to establish new farming communities.

Having lived through those formative years, David shares a rare firsthand account of how the Soldier Settlement Scheme transformed Flinders Island. From draining vast wetlands and clearing farmland to welcoming eighty-eight new farming families, he tells how determination, hard work and community reshaped both the landscape and the future of the island.

With David, guests look beyond the scenery to understand the history beneath it. Every paddock, drain and farming district carries the legacy of the people who built modern Flinders Island, offering a deeper appreciation of the resilience and vision that continue to shape the community today.