[3] The islands have a rich Aboriginal cultural heritage with human occupation of the area estimated to date to between 8,000 and 13,000 years ago.

The establishment of sealer settlements by Europeans in Eastern Bass Strait, including Kent Group, were amongst the earliest outside Sydney Cove.

A lighthouse was constructed on Deal Island in 1848, with permanent human habitation until its deactivation in 1992.

[3] Kent Group has a high diversity of fish species, likely due to the convergence of influences including the East Australian Current and westerly flow of Bass Strait.

[4] The marine reserve area generally east of Deal Island prohibits fishing.