West Anderson or ‘Woody‘ is around 400 acres.

July 1844 this article published in the Port Philip Gazette of the Isabella being wrecked near Woody.

This link gives perspective of the islands to FI and CBI

Woody is where Dad and his cousin KC heard the family history/tales from their fathers and Uncles. This connection is possibly why we all love Woody.

Feb 1916 Dan Bowman notes in his diary, he, George and Horace visited Tin Kettle and Woody – quite a few years before taking over the lease.

The Badger Corner Robinson’s leased Woody after the passing of Jules Leon Vireaux. The executors advertised The Goodwill of the Lease and Occupation Licence of Woody and Tin Kettle Islands’  in the Examiner late 1921.

The Badger Corner Robinson’s formed, from what we gather a family partnership as follows, James Senior 70, Tuck 38, Wally 36, Bertie 34, Louie 33, John 32, Dick 30, Dolly 29 and Horace 28. The partnership of nine ran stock on Tin Kettle after winning the tender.

Horace, John and Dick also formed the company Robinson Bros (HJC) on successfully tendering to lease Woody, this was in addition to their family partnership on Tin Kettle. After the death of John (1956), Horace (1958) and Dick (1971) the partnership continued as first cousins, finally father and son. In 2013 the partnership was put to rest after a 90 year association.

Working on Woody in the very early days, Robinson Bros could be camped there for extended periods, providing the opportune time for reminiscing. My brother, son, nephew and cousins attest to this, as they too have experienced this handing down of history. Dad, the entertainer when he gets going, we loved hearing his stories when we were growing up (and still do) as told to him by his father and Uncles.

The hut and shearing shed are on the southern bay with a stunning outlook across to the unusual granite rock formations in the foreground of Cape Barren. Working on Woody: whilst sounds like fun, is, extreme, physical work, every thing carted on and off the boat via the beach, food and water, bedding, shearing equipment, generators, gas bottles, wool bales, dogs, even wood, Woody has not a single tree! It’s no wonder all the Robinson’s have crook knee’s.

This small island paradise home to sheep and up until about 25 years ago, cattle. Getting the stock on and off always a well executed plan, again in the early days the cattle swum on/off to the trading boat, a difficult and high risk job so its good those days are long gone.

When we were kids the Holloway barge was the mode of transport; we would spend the day on the barge with Greame going to collect the stock, always a long day and never boring.

Shearing time; again a well planned event around the variables of tide and weather – nothing is ever taken for granted in the Straits.

The Coogee was used in the early days until replaced with the Seaplane, the first boat I remember. Speed boats replaced the Seaplane. The Seaplane being the only casualty of the 2000 FI bush fires, burnt on her mooring at Long Point. No doubt the early Robinson Bros would’ve had a stream of family visiting when working on Woody.