Back Roads: Aug 29

In the season final of Back Roads, Heather Ewart travels to King Island, a place famous for cheese, seafood and the treacherous Roaring 40’s winds.

Heather Ewart travels to King Island in Bass Strait, half-way between Tasmania and Victoria. Heather is on a journey to discover the ‘Real King Islanders’ and find out why many who left are returning, and what is it about their ‘Rock’ that makes it such a safe harbour.

Heather meets Paul Daniel who is regarded as one of the best free divers on King Island. When Paul was 24, he was swept offshore in a strong current while diving for crayfish. He spent the night at sea while a frantic search was underway to find him. He survived the night by tying himself to a buoy. Remarkably, he was rescued the following morning by a father and son who had come to check their craypots!

Another true blue local is Dave Bowling, a ‘kelper’ on King Island. Dave picks up bull kelp by the truckload and sells it. The kelp is used in many things like ice-cream, garden fertiliser and paint. The Bowling family has farmed at Surprise Bay at the southern end of the island since 1889, when their ancestor, Elizabeth Bowling, moved to the island from England with her 10 children.

Heather also meets Caroline Kininmonth who moved to King Island from Victoria after she lost her home and all her possessions in a house fire. Caroline came across a derelict boatshed, resurrected the building and turned it into what is now known as ‘the restaurant with no food’, a popular haven for locals and tourists to gather.

8pm Monday on ABC.