Young Tasmanians fuel King Island’s optimistic future, defy trends

One of Tasmania’s island homes is defying trends, with young people returning home for work and community. The revival of this remote place and how it’s changing prospects for the future.

King Islander Rowan Cooke at the King Island airport. Picture: Elise Kaine

Bucking the trend of young Tasmanians moving further afield to find work and better opportunities, Rowan Cooke has found himself in positions he never even aspired to right in his home town.

30-something-year-old Mr Cooke has lived on and off King Island his whole life.

He has always had a keen interest in politics, but was more interested in international relations than anything domestic.

Mr Cooke is a councillor for King Island, the remote island in the Braddon electorate with around 1800 residents.

King Island council chamber. Picture: Elise Kaine

He said people on the island are currently very optimistic for the future and excited about economic prospects ahead.

“It’s actually a really exciting time on the island.”

Mr Cooke was elected in 2022 after a by-election and has spent his time on the council immersing himself in the local governance on the island.

He says being on the council has given him an experience in government working together to achieve outcomes.

He said people on the island are both excited about the prospect of a Tasmanian AFL team, and concerned about what the cost to King Island will be.

“Some locals are very, very excited- but it’s more of a mainland Tasmanian issue.

“I think a lot of islanders would like to see a football stadium, but they are also concerned about the economic impact it might have on King Island.”

Mr Cooke said he has noticed an increase in people moving to the island, and there have been general discussions on island about boosting the population for years.

“We have definitely got some new people coming to the island, and not just for the factory, but just to the island in general.

“We’ve also seen a return of people my age coming back to the island and looking to settle down and raise a family or just find work.

“That’s been another positive boom,” he said.

King Island Dairy

Mr Cooke also works part time at the Kings Island Dairy as a cheesemaker, and he is among a cohort of King Islanders who have moved home- not just for a job but to be closer with community.

Visiting the island to see family and friends is expensive, and despite higher costs on the island it’s often cheaper to move home than to visit frequently.

“There’s not many places left in Australia with such a good, vibrant community. There’s no other place around where you just wave to some random and they will wave back,” Mr Cookes said.