Kent Group National Park facts for kids

The Kent Group National Park is a special place in Tasmania, Australia. It's made up of the Kent Group islands and the ocean around them. You can find it in the Bass Strait. The islands themselves are about 23.74 square kilometers big. The marine (ocean) part of the park is much larger, covering about 290 square kilometers. This park helps protect both land and sea.

History of the Islands

The islands have a very long history. Aboriginal people lived here many thousands of years ago. Experts believe they were here between 8,000 and 13,000 years ago. This shows a rich cultural past.

Later, Europeans came to the area. They set up settlements for hunting seals. These were some of the first European settlements outside Sydney Cove.

A lighthouse was built on Deal Island in 1848. People lived there to keep the lighthouse working until 1992. Some parts of the islands were even used for grazing cattle until 1996. Dover Island was the least changed by human activities.

Protecting the Ocean Life

The waters around the Kent Group are full of different fish. This is because two ocean currents meet here. These are the East Australian Current and the westerly flow of Bass Strait.

The park includes a special marine reserve. This area is mostly east of Deal Island. In this part of the park, fishing is not allowed. This rule helps to protect the many fish species and their homes.