In 2009, a Sydney couple moved to a remote Tasmanian island; they stayed for nine years

John and Bev O’Brien left Sydney in search of a different way of living, and in 2009, that search took them to Three Hummock Island, a remote State Reserve off Tasmania’s north-west coast, where they spent the next nine years managing accommodation and helping care for the island. The couple had no permanent neighbours nearby and lived with the practical limits of an island that could only be reached by small boat, light aircraft or helicopter. They finally left in 2018, and were returning to Sydney after years in a place where some months their Land Rover travelled only about 30 kilometres. According to ABC News, the couple had managed the island’s accommodation business for the entire nine-year period.A job that came with the islandJohn, a former firefighter, and Bev, a teacher, had originally left Sydney to travel and explore other ways of living. They worked as caretakers at the Eyre Bird Observatory in Western Australia, and that was where they heard about the opportunity to manage accommodation on Three Hummock Island.The island was leased by Melbourne businessmen and contained only a few buildings, two airstrips and a jetty. Because it was a Tasmanian State Reserve, the managers had responsibilities beyond looking after guests. When there were visitors, the couple ran the accommodation, and when there were no guests, they worked on the island itself. The couple maintained tracks, painted signs and dealt with the routine jobs required to keep a remote property operating. The island has about 30 kilometres of internal tracks, according to the current Three Hummock Island website.Three Hummock Island covers roughly 7,400 hectares, and its current accommodation operator describes it as extremely remote, with guests required to bring their own food, clothing, medication and other supplies. Electricity comes from renewable sources including wind and solar, while water is supplied by rainwater tanks and a nearby spring.Getting off the island was not simpleWeather was a huge determinant of whether anyone could reach the island or leave it. Three Hummock Island sits in Bass Strait, where strong winds and rough seas can make travel difficult. John installed a weather station and initially set its wind alarm at 55 knots. Storms repeatedly triggered it, so he raised the setting several times. The highest wind speed he recorded was 86 knots, more than 160 kilometres per hour, according to his account to ABC News.About five years before the couple left, John fell from a ladder and broke his back, and it took nine hours for him to reach hospital in Burnie. In 2017, a different emergency unfolded close to their home: the fishing boat Japara caught fire within sight of the couple’s kitchen. The O’Briens helped the crew ashore, gave them showers and clothing, and the men were later taken by helicopter for treatment for smoke inhalation.The wildlife was part of daily lifeForester kangaroos were among the animals the couple saw regularly, along with seabirds and other species. John told ABC that the kangaroos appeared to become accustomed to him and Bev. “A stranger arriving on the island was a different matter”, he said. One night, a little penguin appeared at their door during bad weather. Bev opened it and found the bird standing outside. It was one of the encounters the couple remembered after leaving.Bev recalled a female kangaroo that had become too weak to stand, and another kangaroo remained beside her before she died overnight. The couple also became experienced boaters during their stay. They caught fish for themselves and regularly ate oysters and abalone, and their knowledge of the surrounding waters became part of the practical routine of living so far from the mainland.Nine years later, they went back to SydneyBy April 2018, the O’Briens had decided it was time to leave. They had spent nine years on Three Hummock Island, and family was one of the reasons they wanted to return. The couple told ABC they had not spent Christmas with their relatives for 11 years. During the boat trip away, Bev kept looking back at the island and crying. The following day, the couple could still see its outline from Stanley in northern Tasmania. John was more ready to return to city life, while Bev was still struggling with the departure. Their next plans were less isolated: they were considering a boating trip along the Murray River.Three Hummock Island remains a State Reserve and continues to receive visitors. Its current accommodation is based at the Homestead, a four-bedroom property that can accommodate up to eight people. Visitors still have to arrange transport by air or sea, and the island operates on a pack-in, pack-out basis for rubbish and unused food.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.