Trees of 4 to 8 feet in diameter were cleared to make way for the impressive white painted, very large house.
Work was part of life for all family, from milking cows to growing vegetables and fruit.
Turkeys, also were part of the diet.
In 1887 cousin George Petro and sisters Athena and Roxanna arrived from San Francisco to live at Scottsdale.
In 1897 the property was of 132 acres, the soil fair quality, timber of Stringy Bark, Stringy Gum, White Gum and well watered.
Orcharding and cropping were the most successful forms of income.
In 1898 the property was stocked with 20 cows, a lot for the time. The apple orchard was about 40 acres, large for those days, and cherries also were grown for wine.
The home consisted of four bedrooms, one drawing room and a large dining room built at a cost of 1000 pounds.
Outbuildings were erected as was a tennis court where the family conducted many tennis tournaments, being able to form their own team.
All the family were good tennis players, some members becoming champions. George the youngest son later played Davis Cup tennis representing Canada.
Dilkhoosa had a beautiful garden, with red geraniums and neatly trimmed hedges. The Entrance Hall was wide and the rooms off it had ‘French Windows’ opening onto wide verandah's.
The beds were curtained in white with white covers and a valance….all white with a red band.
The home was also the school house, where the elder children who were educated in India, taught the younger children.
The bell rang at 9.00am and school lessons began. The dictionary was their spelling book.
Dilkhoosa was also a place of entertainment where neighbourhood social activities were conducted.
A ball was held on one occasion and the hallway was used as the dance floor.
All the family were delegated work responsibilities, which commenced at "sunup until sundown".
The garden was the pride and joy, growing potatoes, beans, peas, cabbage, carrots, parsnip, squash– Small fruits, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, both red and black.
During the dry season water was collected in large kerosene cans and carried from the creek, to the famished plants.
George the youngest son was to watch the turkey hens, follow them until their nest was found. The turkeys were to kept out of the orchard.
Fresh meat consisted of wallaby, fresh killed pork or veal...... "plenty of salted brine cured pork"!
In 1896 the orchard was commenced– seven years later the trees bore excellent fruit which was shipped to Launceston and sold at very good prices. "The start of real money"!
Lord Gormanston when Governor of Tasmania visited Capt Holmes at Dilkhoosa (they had previously been soldiers in the Rifle Corps) and upon his return to Hobart at the Show dinner, he was loud in his praise of what Capt. Holmes and family had done, indicating the "perseverance, hard work and grit accomplishment".
Both Harry and Harold did the "lions" share of farming and were given reward in due time.
