Industries

This page provides information on industries within the Kangaroo Island Region. For further information on a specific industry please visit the Industries and Markets section.

Viticulture

Kangaroo Island has been gazetted as a wine region in its own right by the Geographical Indicator Committee. Most vineyards are located on the eastern end of the Island. There are five on the Dudley Peninsula, nine within close proximity to Kingscote, one near Vivonne Bay, two in the Hundred of Haines, and the remainder on the Gosse/Seddon Plateau.

Horticulture

Irrigated seed potatoes are the predominant horticultural crop produced on the island. In 2003 there was a total planted area of 52ha with a total harvest of 1,765 t.

Landbased aquaculture

Landbased aquaculture utilises surface water to produce marron, yabbies and rainbow trout.

Cheese

There are two cheese producers on the Island, one using sheep's milk and the other using cow's milk. Both retail their products locally, and on the mainland. The sheep milk dairy also produces yogurt.

Oils

Both olive and essential oils are currently produced on Kangaroo Island. Eucalyptus oil is produced on the island from the local Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaf Mallee (E. cneorifolia). There is one small scale producer of lavender fragrant oil on the Island.

Plantation and farm forestry

Plantation forestry on Kangaroo Island dates back to the late 1970s. As at June 2011 forestry on the island comprised 14,800ha of Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum), 4,500ha of Pinus radiata and over 1,100ha of farm forestry comprising other eucalypt hardwood species. A number of local farmers have integrated forestry into their farming operations and have also used forest plantations to ameliorate water logged and saline soils. All forestry on the Island is owned and managed by private interests.

PIRSA Forestry supports development opportunities that enhance the contribution of South Australia's forest and forest products sector through innovation, value adding, barrier reduction and providing information.

PIRSA Forestry has facilitated the development of the Guidelines for Plantation Forestry in South Australia 2009. These provide a framework for the establishment and management of plantation forests, including mandatory requirements and additional forest industry practices.
The South Australian Parliament has amended the Forest Property Act 2000 to provide new business opportunities for plantation owners and farm foresters. The amended act enables separate ownership of land, forest vegetation and the carbon rights in that vegetation. The act provides for two forms of Forest Property Agreement (for vegetation and carbon rights) that can be registered on the Lands Title register. Both forms of agreement bind the future owners of the land. Once agreements are established, private landowners will be able to sell their forests and/or carbon rights to provide additional income without selling their land.

PIRSA Forestry produces a range of fact sheets and information specific to landholders in South Australia. Please check the Publications index for this information. Alternatively contact PIRSA Forestry directly for further information.

Key external links for further information

Link icon Kangaroo Island Food - Links to producers, market information and value adding industries

Link icon Kangaroo Island Regional Development Board - Development Assistance