Rescued King Island Dairy validated with major win at national dairy awards
A prestigious dairy award has validated the dramatic rescue of King Island’s century-old cheese factory, which was on the brink of closure last year.
After six months at the helm, King Island Dairy’s owners say their “big bet” on the iconic brand has been validated with a massive win at the national dairy awards.
The 27th Australian Grand Dairy Awards were recently held, with the King Island dairy in Bass Strait taking home the grand champion dairy product in the washed/mixed‑rind class for its Black Label Double brie, which is only available on King Island.
Owner Nick Dobromilsky said the win showed when you “stop treating cheese like a commodity and start treating it like craft, good things happen”.
“We didn’t buy King Island Dairy to turn it into something else. We bought it to turn it back into itself,” Mr Dobromilsky said.
“But this win really belongs to the team — the cheesemakers who stuck through 12 months of uncertainty, not knowing if they’d have jobs, but kept making cheese the right way anyway.
“King Island Dairy has almost a century of craft behind it, and these people are the keepers of that craft.”
He said the win uplifts the entire island, not just the cheese factory, which was facing closure after the previous owner failed to find a buyer.
“King Island thrives because of what’s around us — the cleanest air, the richest pastures, salt spray from Bass Strait,” he said.
The win was a reminder that “geography matters in cheesemaking”.
“You can’t fake where something comes from, and you can’t replicate what this island gives us.
“When our cheese wins, the whole island wins — it’s a validation of place and people, not just product.”
Mr Dobromilsky said Tasmania was now recognised as a world‑class destination, and King Island Dairy had been helping to define what “Tasmanian quality” produce means for decades.
“We’re not here to revolutionise it, we’re here to let it be what it was always meant to be,” he said.
There were a record‑breaking 471 entries in the awards, and entries must be produced in Australia with 100% Australian milk and have been awarded gold at a state qualifying competition.
Head of marketing at Dairy Australia, Glenys Zucco, said the Australian Grand Dairy Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible diversity, flavour and craftsmanship of the local dairy industry.
“With champions from every state, the Australian Grand Dairy Awards truly reflect the rich diversity and talent across our country.”
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