Job location: Beach in Jamaica

Salary: $5/week

No of people needed: 3

No of applicants (so far) 6,437,943

Duties: Assisting girls onto horses bareback.

Described as “The best job in the World”, a six month position as caretaker of an Australian tropical island with a A$150,000 (£73,500) salary has been awarded to Britain Ben Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Petersfield, Hampshire.

Ben beat 34,000 other applicants to land the dream position. His new job requires him to live and report from Hamilton Island, on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. As well as the salary, the post of caretaker at Hamilton Island comes with a three bedroom beach home, a swimming pool and golf cart.

The job description requires the successful candidate to “to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle”. As a thoroughly modern caretaker, Mr Southall will also be expected to report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.

The 34,000 applicants were whittled down to 16 finalists who all spent four days on Hamilton Island undergoing a rigorous selection process involving snorkelling, barbecues and time at a spa. The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities and take swimming lessons.

After being awarded the position Ben commented, “I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting. My swimming is hopefully up to standard and I look forward to all the new roles and responsibilities that the task involves.”

The campaign was launched by Tourism Queensland in a bid to boost the areas declining tourism industry.