Ian and Tassie Gardner were the first family to move into a new home at Kentdale, taking possession of Lot 1 on 20 November 1953 with their two children. Ian, born in Victoria in 1921 but raised on Flinders Island, came from a long-established island family with roots dating back to the nineteenth century. During the Second World War he enlisted, from Flinders Island, in the Australian Army , serving in northern Australia and the Islands, where he gained valuable plant operation skills in the Army Construction Corps before returning home in 1946.

After marrying Tassie in 1948, Ian worked as a builder constructing the original settlers' homes at Whitemark before joining the Ag Bank as a plant operator. Having previously lived at Summercamp, they moved to Lot 1 of Kentdale. Although the land failed to meet expectations, he steadily built up his dairy herd through determination and perseverance. A major setback occurred when the herd became infected with brucellosis, forcing many of the cows out of production. To support his family while rebuilding the herd, Ian took a job with the Ag Bank for two years before successfully re-establishing the farm.

When their children reached high school age, Ian and his family sold the property and moved to Launceston so the children could access better educational opportunities. Drawing on the mechanical training he had received during his Army service, Ian later became the engineer on the Flinders Trader, the main vessel servicing Flinders Island. He took great pride in the role and remained with the ship until his retirement.