Fire has destroyed King Island’s only pharmacy overnight, leaving the Bass Strait community without an essential service.

Emergency services were called to Edward Street in the main settlement of Currie about 3:30am where they found the business ablaze.

Crews were also called in from Naracoopa on the other side of the island but were unable to stop fire destroying the building.

Investigators from mainland Tasmania will travel to the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

About 1,800 people live on King Island, off the north-western tip of Tasmania, with most services centred in Currie.