Basil J. Eastoe was born in Melbourne and educated at Heidelberg Technical College. After working in the building industry, he turned to farming at Hagley in northern Tasmania. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1941, served in the Middle East, rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and completed several years of military service before his discharge.

Following the war, Basil worked in share farming in New South Wales before moving to Flinders Island in 1953 as Assistant District Supervisor under W. N. Melrose. He proved an effective Field Supervisor with the War Service Land Settlement Scheme and was later successful in obtaining Lot 5 at Kentdale. He married Margaret, the district nurse, and together they raised two sons. A committed member of the community, Basil became actively involved in local organisations and served as both a Councillor and later Warden. He farmed Lot 5 until 1979, when family considerations prompted the sale of the property and a move to New South Wales