At the time, there were only 149 full-blooded Aboriginal Tasmanians remaining. Over half the population was living on the islands of Bass Strait.
During its operation, about 100 Tasmanian Aboriginals were moved to Oyster Cove. The move of so many people with different tribal backgrounds created significant tensions. They were initially housed in large community huts, but many of the original inhabitants simply walked out and returned to their tribal homelands. They missed the rugged nature of their original hunting grounds and were uncomfortable and unhappy living on the mission.
Many Aboriginal people died from exposure, introduced diseases, and lack of food. The mortality rate was 20% and was more than double for children under 5. They were also forbidden to practice their indigenous traditions and forced to give up their native languages and adopt Christianity.
The first years were very rough and there was a lot of friction between the Aboriginal workers and the management. Despite this, the Tasmanian Aboriginals managed to maintain a sense of identity as a distinct society within the mission community.
The last full-blooded Tasmanian Aboriginal man, William Lanne, died at Oyster Cove in 1869. There were many mixed race Tasmanian Aboriginal people on Flinders Island and there are descendants living there to this day.
The mission closed in 1873, and the Aboriginal residents were dispersed to other reserves or assimilated into the general population.
