History of Oyster Farming in Wallis Lake
Oysters, including the Sydney Rock Oyster, have long been collected by Aborigines in Australia. However, oyster farming as such began in the Wallis Lake area in about 1900. Since the natural, easily-harvested resources had long been depleted by European settlers, local farmers began to grow the oysters. They used cabbage tree sticks to give the oyster larvae a hospitable place to grow. This eventually evolved into the stick cultivation used today.
Oyster farmers in the 1980's then began using turpentine stakes and frames covered in cement and treated to provide protection from marine pests to attract oyster larvae. These larvae grew for 2 ½-3 years before they were ‘knocked off’, then returned to the estuary for another 6-12 months of fattening. All told, then it took about four years for the farmer to bring the oyster from catch to sale.
Today, Oyster farmers "catch" their larvae using sustainable plastic slats or purchase the larvae from specialised Hatcheries. The larvae is then grown singularly using a number of different containment systems, baskets, plastic trays, floating rafts etc. until they reach market size in approximately 2-3 years (around 12 months faster than the previous production method).
The business is a major economic producer in the Foster-Tuncurry area, contributing about $8 million each year to the local economy. The outstanding quality of the local oysters has made Wallis Lake a famous seafood paradise. If you love oysters, this is the place to get them.
History of Graham Barclay Oysters
The story of Graham Barclay and Graham Barclay Oysters truly began over 100 years ago. Graham Barclay’s grandfather was the first in the family in the oyster business, managing the Wallis Lake sector for Woodward and Company. He passed his love of the business along to his son, who stayed in the business until his death. His oyster lease then went to his son, Graham Barclay.
At the time, Graham Barclay was already making a name for himself as the man behind Graham Barclay Marine. Born in Tuncurry and a resident of the Great Lakes his entire life, Graham was eager to get into the oyster business. Using what he had earned from Graham Barclay Marine, he jumped feet-first into the industry.
When one of the biggest oyster producers along the coast, Alan Giles and Company, went into receivership, Graham was ready. He bought their operation at auction and continued to buy leases from retiring oyster farmers. Eventually, he was able to bring the story full circle, buying out Woodward and Company almost exactly a century after his grandfather had worked there.
Today, Graham Barclay Oysters is one of the biggest and best-recognised oyster producers in the Wallis Lake area. With awards for our production and three generations of experience under our belts, we look forward to continuing to produce some of the best oysters the world over. Contact us
today to learn more and to order your oysters!