Wildcare - Branches - Friends of Maatsuyker Island

Friends of Maatsuyker Island (FOMI) was formed in 2003 by a small group of volunteer caretakers, lighthouse island enthusiasts, and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife staff who shared a common bond – a love for Maatsuyker Island and a desire to see it cared for future generations. Today FOMI has strong membership and an active Committee. Our mission is to ensure the conservation, protection and recognition of Maatsuyker Island’s historic, natural and Aboriginal values.

Branch Files

Maatsuyker Island Historic Objects Catalogue (Vol. 1, 2013) - A catalogue of objects located on Maatsuyker Island in 2013. This is the first volume and includes 432 records comprising around 65% of the objects to be recorded.
Maatsuyker Island Historic Objects Catalogue (Vols. 1 & 2 - 2013 & 2017) - A catalogue of over 650 objects located and recorded on Maatsuyker Island.
Island Biosecurity Maatsuyker - Biosecurity arrangements that apply for Maatsuyker Island.
FOMI Art Card Compilation
FOMI Art Cards & Bookmarks Order Form
FOMI Newsletter No. 9 - Happy 10th Birthday FOMI!
FOMI Newsletter No. 10
FOMI Newsletter No. 14 (Sept 2020)
FOMI Strategic Plan 2021-2025
FOMI Minutes - summary for members - June 2023 - A summary of the FOMI Committee meeting in June 2023 for members
FOMI Committee Terms of Reference
Weed Control Program 2023-24 Report
FOMI President's Report 2023-24
2024-25 FOMI Committee

Maatsuyker Island

Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse, 2015

Shearwater monitoring on Maatsuyker Island (Photo G. Hedley)

Weed control on Maatsuyker Island (Photo M. Campbell)

Maatsuyker weed control Feb 2013 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Maatsuyker Star Trail (Photo James Stone)

Mark Sheriff on Maat Lighthouse (Photo James Stone)

Matt Weather Station (Photo Fiona Taylor)

Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse Stairwell, 2019 (Photo Fiona Taylor)

Friends of Maatsuyker Island Weed Working Bee, 2018 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Maatsuyker Island aerial (Photo Marina Campbell)

Weed Survey East Maatsuyker (Photo G Miller)

Weed and shearwater team Maatsuyker Island, March 2021 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Weed team Maatsuyker Island, March 2021 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Weed team Maatsuyker Island, March 2022 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Desley removing Hebe Maatsuyker Island, March 2022 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Heidi on the shearwater team, March 2022 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Jeremy Hood (PWS) on the weed team Maatsuyker Island March 2022 (Photo Marina Campbell)

Checking short-tailed shearwater burrows

Maatsuyker Island and Needle Rocks (photo Steve Cronin)

Where we work

Maatsuyker Island is a remote and rugged island 10 km off Tasmania’s south coast. It is the second largest island in the Maatsuyker Group of Islands, which is also part of the South-West National Park – Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The island has a diverse flora and fauna, similar to other parts of coastal Tasmania, but it is unique, and arguably best known for, being the home of Australia’s most southerly lighthouse.

Unloading FOMI volunteers and gear on Maatsuyker Island (photo Ron Fehlberg)

What we do

Friends of Maatsuyker Island (FOMI) is committed to the conservation and protection of the natural, historic and cultural heritage of Maatsuyker Island. Our group works collaboratively with the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS), and other stakeholders, to undertake volunteer activities on- and off-island to achieve our goal.

See our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan at this link.

Examples of FOMI’s volunteer activities include:

Annual working bees to:
- Undertake restoration works and maintenance on the lighthouse tower and historic buildings.
- Remove weeds (Blackberry, Montbretia, Californian Thistle, and Veronica elliptica).
- Monitor the island’s short-tailed shearwater population.
Documenting historic objects on the island relating to the lighthouse station.
Supporting the PWS volunteer caretaker program.
Attending community events and public speaking to promote the island’s unique values and to increase awareness and understanding.
Fundraising to support our activities.

A FOMI volunteer checks short-tailed shearwater burrows (photo Sheryl Hamilton)

FOMI host exhibitions to showcase our activities. Exhibitions have been held at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, Rosny Farm Arts Centre and 10 Days on the Island. You will see us regularly at local Tasmanian events such as the Wooden Boat Festival and Bellerive Seafarer’s Festival. FOMI welcomes public speaking opportunities and has spoken at the Royal Society of Tasmania, University for the Third Age (U3A) and on local radio.

If your community, school or special interest group would like to learn more about what FOMI does you are invited to contact us. Our contact details are below.

Special Projects

Some of FOMI’s special projects in recent years include:

Biosecurity Procedures – click here for guidance on how to avoid introducing pests and diseases to Maatsuyker Island.
Historic Objects – FOMI has completed a project to catalogue all the known historic objects on Maatsuyker Island. Click here for the Australian National Maritime Museum’s blog on the Catalogue of Objects.