Norfolk Island Territory of Norfolk Island
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Inasmuch"
Anthem: Pitcairn Anthem
Capital		Kingston
Largest city		Burnt Pine
Official languages		English, Norfuk
Government		Self-governing territory
-	Head of State	Queen Elizabeth II represented by the Governor-General of Australia
-	Acting administrator	Owen Walsh (2007-)
-	Chief Minister	Andre Neville Nobbs (2007-)
Self-governing territory
-	Norfolk Island Act	1979
Area
-	Total	34.6 km² (227th) 13. The flag of Norfolk Island was adopted on January 17, 1980. It depicts the Norfolk Island Pine ( Araucaria heterophylla) The Coat of arms of Norfolk Island is the official symbol of the island and external Australian territory of Norfolk Island. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's The Pitcairn Anthem &ndash Come ye Blessed is the national anthem sung by people on Norfolk Island and on the Pitcairn Islands. Kingston is the Capital of the Australian South Pacific Territory of Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island ( Norfuk: Norfuk Ailen) is a small inhabited island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand Burnt Pine is the largest and by some measures only settlement on Norfolk Island. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Norfuk (increasingly spelled Norfolk) is the Language spoken on Norfolk Island by the local residents For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II List of Administrative Heads of Norfolk Island, ( Australia) List of Heads of Government of Norfolk Island (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office irrespective of continuation of status of that office Andre Nobbs is a political figure from the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions we list here Areas between 10 km² (1000 Hectares and 100 km² (10000 hectares This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. 3 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	2007 estimate	2114
-	Density	61. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 1/km²  158. 9/sq mi
Currency		Australian dollar (AUD)
Time zone		NFT (Norfolk Island Time) (UTC+11:30)
Internet TLD		.nf
Calling code		+6723

Norfolk Island (Norfuk: Norfuk Ailen) is a small inhabited island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Norfuk (increasingly spelled Norfolk) is the Language spoken on Norfolk Island by the local residents The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For the former North American fur-trading district see New Caledonia (Canada, and for the Scottish colony in Panama see Darien scheme. It and two neighbouring islands form one of Australia's external territories. Types of administrative and/or political territories include Many types of legally administered territories, each of which is a non-sovereign geographic area

The Norfolk Island pine, a symbol of the island pictured in its flag, is an evergreen tree native to the island and is quite popular in Australia, where two related species also grow. Araucaria heterophylla (synonym A excelsa) is a distinctive conifer, a member of the ancient and now disjointly distributed family Araucariaceae In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or

Geography

Norfolk Island is located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of the Australian mainland. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Norfolk Island is the main island of the island group the territory encompasses and is located at 29°02′S, 167°57′E. It has an area of 34. 6 km² (13. 3 mi²), with no large-scale internal bodies of water but 32 km of coastline. The island's highest point is Mt Bates (319 m above sea level), located in the northwest quadrant of the island. The majority of the terrain is suitable for farming and other agricultural uses. Phillip Island, the second largest island of the territory, is located at 29°07′S, 167°57′E, several kilometres south of the main island. Phillip Island is an uninhabited island located at, 6 km south of Norfolk Island in the Southwest Pacific, and part of the Norfolk Island group

The coastline of Norfolk Island consists, to varying degrees, of cliff faces. In Geography and Geology, a cliff is a significant vertical or near vertical rock exposure A downward slope exists towards Sydney Bay and Emily Bay, the site of the original colonial settlement of Kingston. There are no safe harbour facilities on Norfolk Island, with loading jetties existing at Kingston and Cascade Bay. All goods not domestically produced are brought in by ship, usually to Cascade Bay. Emily Bay, protected from the Pacific Ocean by a small coral reef, is the only safe area for recreational swimming, although surfing waves can sometimes be found in Ball Bay.

The climate is subtropical and mild, with little seasonal differentiation. The island is the eroded remnant of a basaltic volcano active around 2. Basalt (bəˈsɔːlt ˈbeisɔːlt ˈbæsɔːlt is a common Extrusive Volcanic rock. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the 3 to 3 million years ago,^[1] with inland areas now consisting mainly of rolling plains. It forms the highest point on the Norfolk Ridge, part of the submerged continent Zealandia. The Norfolk Ridge is a large piece of submerged Continental crust, located about 1300 km off the east-coast of Australia. Zealandia (ziːˈlæːndiə also known as Tasmantis or the New Zealand continent, is a nearly submerged Continent or Microcontinent that

The area surrounding Mt Bates is preserved as the Norfolk Island National Park. Norfolk Island National Park is a protected area of 650 km² It comprises two sections the Mt Pitt section on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean with an The park, covering around 10% of the land of the island, contains remnants of the forests which originally covered the island, including stands of subtropical rainforest. Rainforests are Forests characterized by high Rainfall with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches

The park also includes the two smaller islands to the south of Norfolk Island, Nepean Island and Phillip Island. Nepean Island is a small uninhabited island located at, about 1 km south of Norfolk Island in the Southwest Pacific Phillip Island is an uninhabited island located at, 6 km south of Norfolk Island in the Southwest Pacific, and part of the Norfolk Island group The vegetation of Phillip Island was devastated due to the introduction during the penal era of pest animals such as pigs and rabbits, giving it a red-brown colour as viewed from Norfolk; however, pest control and remediation work by park staff has recently brought some improvement to the Phillip Island environment. Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a Species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's Health

The major settlement on the Island is Burnt Pine, located predominantly along Taylor's Road, where the shopping centre, post office, liquor store, telephone exchange and community hall are located. Burnt Pine is the largest and by some measures only settlement on Norfolk Island. Settlement also exists over much of the island, consisting largely of widely-separated homesteads.

Government House, the official residence of the Administrator, is located on Quality Row in what was the penal settlement of Kingston. Other government buildings, including the court, Legislative Assembly and Administration, are also located there. Kingston's role is largely a ceremonial one, however, with most of the economic impetus coming from Burnt Pine.

Environment

Rhopalostylis baueri, a native palm.

Norfolk Island has 174 native plants; 51 of them are endemic. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere At least 18 of the endemic species are rare or threatened. ^[2] The Norfolk Island Palm (Rhopalostylis baueri) and the Smooth Tree-fern (Cyathea brownii), the tallest tree-fern in the world,^[2] are common in the Norfolk Island National Park but rare elsewhere on the island. Rhopalostylis baueri is a species of palm native to Norfolk Island ( Australia) and to the Kermadec Islands ( New Zealand Cyathea brownii, commonly known as the Norfolk Tree Fern or Smooth Tree Fern, is probably the largest tree fern species in the world 15 bird species were originally present; 6 are extinct and three species and two subspecies are highly endangered. Norfolk island has only one native mammal, Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), which is very rare or may be extinct. Before European colonization, most of Norfolk Island was covered with subtropical rain forest, the canopy of which was made of Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine) in exposed areas, and the palm Rhopalostylis baueri and tree ferns Cyathea brownii and C. Araucaria heterophylla (synonym A excelsa) is a distinctive conifer, a member of the ancient and now disjointly distributed family Araucariaceae Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering The order Cyatheales is a Taxonomic division of the Fern subclass Cyatheatae, which includes the tree ferns. australia in moister protected areas. The understory was thick with lianas and ferns covered the forest floor. Understory (or understorey) is the term for the area of a Forest which grows in the shade of the emergent or forest canopy. The liana is any of various long-stemmed usually woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees as well as other means of vertical support to climb up to Only one small tract (5km²) of rainforest remains, which was declared as the Norfolk Island National Park in 1986. ^[2] This forest has been infested with several introduced plants. An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but The cliffs and steep slopes of Mt. Pitt supported a community of shrubs, herbaceous plants, and climbers. A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use a Herb) is a Plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of A few tracts of clifftop and seashore vegetation have been preserved. The rest of the island has been cleared for pasture and housing. Grazing and introduced weeds currently threaten the native flora, displacing it in some areas. In fact, there are more weed species than native species on Norfolk Island. ^[2]

History

Early history

Norfolk Island was first settled by East Polynesian seafarers either from the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand or from the North Island of New Zealand. Kermadec Islands are an Island arc in the South Pacific Ocean. The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. They arrived in the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and survived for several generations before disappearing. Their main village site has been excavated at Emily Bay, and they also left behind stone tools, the Polynesian Rat, and banana trees as evidence of their sojourn. The Polynesian Rat, or Pacific Rat ( Rattus exulans) known to the Māori as kiore, is the third most widespread species of Rat in The final fate of these early settlers remains a mystery.

The first European known to have sighted the island was Captain James Cook, in 1774, on his second voyage to the South Pacific on HMS Resolution. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and He named it after the Duchess of Norfolk, wife of Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk (1685-1777). Edward Howard 9th Duke of Norfolk was born 5 June 1685 /6 the son of Lord Thomas Howard and Mary Elizabeth Savile The Duchess was dead at the time of the island's sighting by Cook, but Cook had set out from England in 1772 and could not have known of her May 1773 death.

Cook went ashore on Tuesday 11 October 1774, and is said to have been impressed with the tall straight trees and New Zealand flax plants, which, like the Northern Hemisphere flax plants after which they are named, produce fibres of economic importance. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1774 ( MDCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum He took samples back to the United Kingdom and reported on their potential uses for the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service)

Andrew Kippis as the biographer of this voyage puts it as follows:

As the Resolution pursued her course from New Caledonia, land was discovered, which, on a nearer approach, was found to be an island, of good height, and five leagues in circuit. Andrew Kippis ( 28 March 1725 &ndash 8 October 1795) was an English Nonconformist clergyman and Biographer. For the former North American fur-trading district see New Caledonia (Canada, and for the Scottish colony in Panama see Darien scheme. Captain Cook named it Norfolk Isle, in honour of the noble family of Howard (Fn. This article is about the notable family For the fictional group of long-lived people from Robert A : It is situated in the latitude of 29° 2' 30" south, and in the longitude of 168° 16' east). It was uninhabited; and the first persons that ever set foot on it were unquestionably our English navigators. Various trees and plants were observed that are common at New Zealand; and in particular, the flax plant, which is rather more luxuriant here than in any other part of that country. The chief produce of the island is a kind of spruce pine, exceedingly straight and tall, which grows in great abundance. Such is the size of many of the trees that, breast high, they are as thick as two men can fathom. Among the vegetables of the place, the palm-cabbage afforded both a wholesome and palatable refreshment; and, indeed, proved the most agreeable repast that our people had for a considerable time enjoyed. . .

At the time, the United Kingdom was heavily dependent on flax (Linum usitatissimum) (for sails) and hemp (Cannabis sp. A sail is any type of surface intended to generate Thrust by being placed in a Wind &mdashin essence a vertically-oriented Wing. This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug. ) (for ropes) from the shores of the Baltic Sea ports. A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. The Baltic Sea is a Brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N Latitude and from 20°E to 26°E Longitude. Any threat to their supply endangered the United Kingdom's sea power. The UK also relied on timbers from New England for mainmasts, and these were not supplied after the American War of Independence. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The alternative source of Norfolk Island for these, (or in the case of flax and hemp, similar) supplies is argued by some historians, notably Geoffrey Blainey in The Tyranny of Distance, as being a major reason for the founding of the convict settlement of New South Wales by the First Fleet in 1788. Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC (born 11 March 1930) is an Australian Historian. A penal colony is a Settlement used to detain Prisoners and generally use them for Penal labour in an economically underdeveloped part of the state's The First Fleet is the name given to the 11 Ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales.

James Cook said that, “except for New Zealand, in no other island in the South Sea was wood and mast-timber so ready to hand”. ^[3]

John Call, member of Parliament and the Royal Society, and former chief engineer of the East India Company, stated the advantages of Norfolk Island in a proposal for colonization he put to the Home Office in August 1784: “This Island has an Advantage not common to New Caledonia, New Holland and New Zealand by not being inhabited, so that no Injury can be done by possessing it to the rest of Mankind…there seems to be nothing wanting but Inhabitants and Cultivation to make it a delicious Residence. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Climate, Soil, and Sea provide everything that can be expected from them. The Timber, Shrubs, Vegetables and Fish already found there need no Embellishment to pronounce them excellent samples; but the most invaluable of all is the Flax-plant, which grows more luxuriant than in New Zealand. ”^[4]

George Forster, who had been on Cook’s second voyage to the Pacific and had been with him when he landed on Norfolk Island, was at the time professor of natural history at the University of Vilna (or Vilnius) in Polish Lithuania: Forster discussed the proposed Botany Bay colony in an article written in November 1786, “Neuholland, und die brittische Colonie in Botany Bay”. Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. Though unaware of the British intention to settle Norfolk Island, which was not announced until 5 December 1786, Forster referred to “the nearness of New Zealand; the excellent flax plant (Phormium) that grows so abundantly there; its incomparable shipbuilding timber”, as among the advantages of the new colony. ^[5]

The proposal written by James Matra under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks for establishing a settlement in New South Wales, stated that Botany Bay was: “no further than a fortnight from New Zealand, which is covered with timber even to the water’s edge. The trees are so big and tall that a single tree is enough to make a mast of a first rate man of war. New Zealand produces in addition flax, which is an object equally of utility and curiosity. Any quantity of it might be raised in the colony, as this plant grows naturally in New Zealand. It can be made to serve the various purposes of cotton, hemp and linen, and is easier manufactured than any of them. In naval affairs, it could not fail of being of the utmost consequence; a cable of ten inches (250 mm) being supposed to be of equal strength and durability to one of European hemp of eighteen inches. ^[6]

In 1786 the British Government included Norfolk Island as an auxiliary settlement, as proposed by John Call, in its plan for colonization of New South Wales. The flax and ship timber of New Zealand were attractive, but these prospective advantages were balanced by the obvious impossibility of forming a settlement there in the face of undoubted opposition from the native Maori. ^[7] There was no native population to oppose a settlement on Norfolk Island, which also possessed those desirable natural resources, but the island was too small of itself to sustain a colony. Hence the ultimate decision for a dual colonization along the lines proposed by Call.

The decision to settle Norfolk Island was taken under the impetus of the shock Britain had just received from the Empress Catherine of Russia. Practically all the hemp and flax required by the Royal Navy for cordage and sailcloth was imported from the Russian dominions through the ports of St. Petersburg (Kronstadt) and Riga. Comptroller of the Navy Sir Charles Middleton explained to Prime Minister Pitt in a letter of 5 September 1786: “It is for Hemp only we are dependent on Russia. Masts can be procured from Nova Scotia, and Iron in plenty from the Ores of this Country; but as it is impracticable to carry on a Naval War without Hemp, it is materially necessary to promote the growth of it in this Country and Ireland”. ^[8] In the summer of 1786 the Empress Catherine, in the context of tense negotiations on a renewed treaty of commerce, had emphasized her control over this vital commodity by asking the merchants who supplied it to restrict sales to English buyers: “the Empress has contrary to Custom speculated on this Commodity”, complained the author of a subsequent memorandum to the Home Secretary. “It is unnecessary”, said the memorandum, “to remark the Consequences which might result from a prohibition of supply from that Quarter altogether”. ^[9] This implicit threat to the viability of the Royal Navy became apparent in mid-September (a month after the decision had been taken to settle Botany Bay) and caused the Pitt Administration to begin an urgent search for new sources of supply, including from Norfolk Island, which was then added to the plan to colonize New South Wales.

The need for an alternative source of supply of naval stores to Russia is indicated by the information from the British Ambassador in Copenhagen, Hugh Elliott, who wrote to Foreign Secretary, Lord Carmarthen on 12 August 1788: “There is no Topick so common in the Mouths of the Russian Ministers, as to insist on the Facility with which the Empress, when Mistress of the Baltic, either by Conquest, Influence, or Alliance with the other two Northern Powers, could keep England in a State of Dependence for its Baltic Commerce and Naval Stores”. ^[10]

On 6 December 1786, an order-in-council was issued designating "the Eastern Coast of New South Wales, or some one or other of the Islands adjacent" as the destination for transported convicts, as required by the Transportation Act of 1784 (24 Geo. III, c. 56) that authorized the sending of convicted felons to any place appointed by the King in Council. Norfolk Island was thereby brought officially within the bounds of the projected colony.

An article in The Universal Daily Register (the forerunner of The Times) of 23 December 1786 revealed the plan for a dual colonization of Norfolk Island and Botany Bay: “The ships for Botany Bay are not to leave all the convicts there; some of them are to be taken to Norfolk Island, which is about eight hundred miles East of Botany Bay, and about four hundred miles short of New Zealand”. ^[11]

The advantage of Britain's new colony providing an alternative source to Russia for naval supplies of flax and hemp was referred to in an article in Lloyd’s Evening Post of 5 October 1787 which urged: “It is undoubtedly the interest of Great-Britain to remain neutral in the present contest between the Russians and the Turks” and observed, “Should England cease to render her services to the Empress of Russia, in a war against the Turks, there can be little of nothing to fear from her ill-will. England will speedily be enabled to draw from her colony of New South Wales, the staple of Russia, hemp and flax. ”

First penal settlement

Before the First Fleet sailed to found a convict settlement in New South Wales, Governor Arthur Phillip's final instructions, received less than three weeks before sailing, included the requirement to colonize Norfolk Island to prevent it falling into the hands of France, whose naval leaders were also showing interest in the Pacific. A penal colony is a Settlement used to detain Prisoners and generally use them for Penal labour in an economically underdeveloped part of the state's Admiral Arthur Phillip RN (11 October 1738 &ndash 31 August 1814 was a British naval Admiraland colonial administrator This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Phillip’s instructions given him in April 1787 included an injunction to send a party to secure Norfolk Island “as soon as Circumstances may admit of it…. to prevent its being occupied by the Subjects of any other European Power”. This could only have been a reference to the expedition then in the Pacific commanded by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse. Jean François de Galaup comte de La Pérouse (23 August 1741&ndash1788? was a French Navy officer and Explorer whose expedition vanished in Oceania. The Daily Universal Register of 11 November 1786 had stated: "the Botany Bay scheme is laid aside, as there is a strong presumption that a squadron from Brest are now, or soon will be, in possession of the very spot we meant to occupy in New Holland". This may have been a reference to a report from the British Ambassador in Paris, who had believed that when Lapérouse’s expedition set out from Brest in August 1785 it had as one of its objectives the establishment of a settlement in New Zealand to forestall the British.

Lapérouse did attempt to visit Norfolk Island, but only to investigate, not to take possession. He had instructions to investigate any colonies the English may have established and learned of the intention to settle Botany Bay and Norfolk Island from despatches sent to him from Paris through St. Petersburg and by land across Siberia to Petropavlovsk in Kamchatka, where he received them on 26 September 1787, just four days before his departure from that port. ^[12] His ships, the Boussole and Astrolabe, anchored off the northern side of the island on 13 January 1788, but at the time high seas were running that made it too dangerous for the two ships’ boats that were put out to attempt a landing: “It was obvious that I would have had to wait maybe for a very long time for a moment suitable for a landing and a visit to this island was not worth this sacrifice”, he recorded in his journal. ^[13] Having noted that the island was still uninhabited, he was presumably the less inclined to risk a landing when there was no English settlement there to report on.

When the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson in January 1788, Phillip ordered Lieutenant Philip Gidley King to lead a party of fifteen convicts and seven free men to take control of the island and prepare for its commercial development. Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney Australia Philip Gidley King RN (23 April 1758 &ndash 3 September 1808 was an British naval officer and colonial administrator They arrived on 6 March 1788. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap

A “Letter from an Officer of Marines at New South Wales, 16 November 1788”, published in the London newspaper, The World, 15 May 1789, reported the glowing description of the island and its prospects by Philip Gidley King, but also drew attention to the fatal defect of the lack of a safe port: “The said Island lies near Port Jackson, and is nearly as large as the Isle of Wight. Lieutenant King, who was sent with a detachment of marines and some convicts, to settle there, gives the most flattering portrayal of it. The island is fully wooded. Its timber is in the opinion of everyone the most beautiful and finest in the world. . . they are most suitable for masts, yards, spars and such. The New Zealand flax-plant grows there in abundance. European grains and seeds also thrive wonderfully well on Norfolk Island. It only lacks a good port and suitable landing places, without which the island is of no use, but with them it would be of the greatest importance for Great Britain. How far these deficiencies can be improved by art and the hand of man, time must decide. ”

It was soon found that the flax was difficult to prepare for manufacturing and no one had the necessary skills. An attempt was made to bring two Māori men to teach the skills of dressing and weaving flax, but this failed when it was discovered that weaving was considered women's work and the two men had little knowledge of it. This article discusses the Māori people of New Zealand For their language see Māori language, and for other meanings see Māori (disambiguation. The pine timber was found to be not resilient enough for masts and this industry was also abandoned.

More convicts were sent, and the island was seen as a farm, supplying Sydney with grain and vegetables during its early years of near-starvation. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however However, crops often failed due to the salty wind, rats, and caterpillars. Wind is the flow of Air or other Gases that compose an Atmosphere (including but not limited to the Earth's) Rats are various medium sized long-tailed Rodents of the superfamily Muroidea Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths The lack of a natural safe harbour hindered communication and the transport of supplies and produce.

Manning Clark observed that "at first the convicts behaved well, but as more arrived from Sydney Cove, they renewed their wicked practices". Charles Manning Hope Clark AC These included an attempted overthrow of King in January 1789 by convicts described by Margaret Hazzard as "incorrigible rogues who took his 'goodwill' for weakness". Margaret Hazzard is an Australian Author native to Norfolk Island. While some convicts responded well to the opportunities offered to become respectable, most remained "idle and miserable wretches" according to Clark, despite the climate and their isolation from previous haunts of crime.

The impending starvation at Sydney led to a great transplantation of convicts and marines to Norfolk Island in March 1790 on HMS Sirius. See HMS ''Sirius'' for other ships of this name Berwick was built by Watsons of Rotherhithe in 1780 for the Baltic trade This attempt to relieve the pressure on Sydney turned to disaster when Sirius was wrecked and, although there was no loss of life, some stores were destroyed, and the ship's crew was marooned for ten months. This news was met in Sydney with "unspeakable consternation". ^[14] Norfolk Island was now further cut off from Sydney which, with the arrival of the Second Fleet with its cargo of sick and abused convicts, had more pressing problems with which to contend. The Second Fleet frequently is regarded as being the group of four ships which arrived together at Sydney Cove in Port Jackson, New South Wales in late

In spite of this the settlement grew slowly as more convicts were sent from Sydney. Many convicts chose to remain as settlers on the expiry of their sentence, and the population grew to over 1000 by 1792.

Norfolk Island was governed by a succession of short-term commandants for the next eleven years, starting with King's replacement, Robert Ross 1789-1790. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Year -of the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar until Friday, but 12 days ahead since Saturday. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Joseph Foveaux (1767 – 20 March 1846 was a soldier and convict settlement administrator in colonial New South Wales, Australia. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a John Piper ( 20 April 1773 &ndash 8 June 1851) was a military officer public servant and landowner Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In 1810 Lieutenant Thomas Crane, an officer of the 73rd Regiment was appointed caretaker commandant of Norfolk Island during the final evacuation of the first Convict settlement Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common William Hutchinson (1772 &ndash 26 July 1846) was a British convict who was transported to the Australian colonies ultimately Robert Ross may refer to Robert Ross (British army officer (1766&ndash1814 Robert Ross (CEO, founder and leader of the Muscular Dystrophy When Joseph Foveaux arrived as Lieutenant Governor in 1800, he found the settlement quite run down, little maintenance having been carried out in the previous four years, and he set about building it up, particularly through public works and attempts to improve education. Joseph Foveaux (1767 – 20 March 1846 was a soldier and convict settlement administrator in colonial New South Wales, Australia. ^[15]

As early as 1794 King suggested its closure as a penal settlement as it was too remote and difficult for shipping, and too costly to maintain. By 1803, the Secretary of State, Lord Hobart, called for the removal of part of the Norfolk Island military establishment, settlers and convicts to Van Diemen's Land, due to its great expense and the difficulties of communication between Norfolk Island and Sydney. Robert Hobart 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, PC ( 6 May 1760 &ndash 4 February 1816) known as Lord Hobart from 1793 Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. This was achieved more slowly than anticipated, due to reluctance of settlers to uproot themselves from the land they had struggled to tame, and compensation claims for loss of stock. It was also delayed by King's insistence on its value for providing refreshment to the whalers. The first group of 159 left in February 1805 and comprised mainly convicts and their families and military personnel, only four settlers departing. Between November 1807 and September 1808, five groups of 554 people departed. Only about 200 remained, forming a small settlement until the remnants were removed in 1813. A small party remained to slaughter stock and destroy all buildings so that there would be no inducement for anyone, especially from another European power, to visit that place.

From 15 February 1814 to 6 June 1825 the island lay abandoned. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1825 ( MDCCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

Second penal settlement

In 1824 the British government instructed the Governor of New South Wales Thomas Brisbane to occupy Norfolk Island as a place to send “the worst description of convicts”. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Alexander Maconochie (11 February 1787&ndash25 October 1860 was a Scottish naval officer geographer and Penal reformer. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1844 ( MDCCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Major Joseph Childs (1787-1870 soldier and penal administrator of the Royal Marines, was commandant of the second Convict settlement at Norfolk Island Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common John Giles Price (1808 &ndash 1857 magistrate and penal administrator was the only civilian to command the second Convict settlement at Norfolk Island, being in Captain Rupert Deering, soldier and penal administrator of the 99th Regiment was commandant of the second Convict settlement at Norfolk Island, from the Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Captain H Day, soldier and penal administrator was commandant of the second Convict settlement at Norfolk Island, during its last days from September 1853 to May Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year T S Stewart was the Commissariat Storekeeper at Norfolk Island when it was finally abandoned as a Convict settlement. Major-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane 1st Baronet, GCH, GCB ( July 23, 1773 – January 27, 1860) soldier Its remoteness, seen previously as a disadvantage, was now viewed as an asset for the detention of the “twice-convicted” men, who had committed further crimes since arriving in New South Wales. Brisbane assured his masters that “the felon who is sent there is forever excluded from all hope of return” He saw Norfolk Island as “the nec plus ultra of Convict degradation”.

His successor, Governor Ralph Darling, was even more severe than Brisbane, wishing that “every man should be worked in irons that the example may deter others from the commission of crime” and “to hold out [Norfolk Island] as a place of the extremest punishment short of death”. General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH (1772 – 2 April 1858) was a British colonial Governor and the seventh Governor of New Governor George Arthur, in Van Diemen's Land, likewise believed that “when prisoners are sent to Norfolk Island, they should on no account be permitted to return. Transportation thither should be considered as the ultimate limit and a punishment short only of death”. Reformation of the convicts was not seen as an objective of the Norfolk Island penal settlement.

The evidence that has passed down through the years points to the creation of a "Hell in Paradise". A widespread and popular notion of the harshness of penal settlements, including Norfolk Island, has come from the novel For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke, which appears to be based on the writings and recollections of witnesses and from the fictional writings of Price Warung. For the Term of his Natural Life, written by Marcus Clarke, was published in the Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872 (as His Natural Life This article is about the novelist Marcus Clarke For the puppeteer of the same name see Marcus Clarke (puppeteer. William Astley ( 13 August 1855 – 5 October 1911) was an Australian short story writer who wrote under the Pseudonym "

Following a convict mutiny in 1834, Father William Ullathorne, Vicar general of Sydney, visited Norfolk Island to comfort the mutineers due for execution. William Bernard Ullathorne ( 7 May 1806 – 21 March 1889) was an English Roman Catholic bishop and Missionary A vicar general (often abbreviated VG) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority He found it “the most heartrending scene that I ever witnessed”. Having the duty of informing the prisoners as to who was reprieved and who was to die, he was shocked to record as “a literal fact that each man who heard his reprieve wept bitterly, and that each man who heard of his condemnation to death went down on his knees with dry eyes, and thanked God. ”

The 1846 report of magistrate Robert Pringle Stuart exposed the scarcity and poor quality of food, inadequacy of housing, horrors of torture and incessant flogging, insubordination of convicts, and corruption of overseers.

Bishop Robert Willson visited Norfolk Island from Van Diemen's Land on three occasions. Following his first visit in 1846 he reported to the House of Lords who, for the first time, came to realise the enormity of atrocities perpetrated under the British flag and attempted to remedy the evils. Willson returned in 1849 and found that many of the reforms had been implemented. However, rumours of resumed atrocities brought him back in 1852, and this visit resulted in a damning report, listing atrocities and blaming the system, which invested one man at this remote place with absolute power over so many people.

Only a handful of convicts left any written record and their descriptions (as quoted by Hazzard and Hughes) of living and working conditions, food and housing, and, in particular, the punishments given for seemingly trivial offences, are unremittingly horrifying, describing a settlement devoid of all human decency, under the iron rule of the tyrannical autocratic commandants.

The actions of some of the commandants, such as Morisset and particularly Price appear to be excessively harsh. Lieutenant-Colonel James Thomas Morisset (1782 – August 17, 1852) penal administrator was commandant of the John Giles Price (1808 &ndash 1857 magistrate and penal administrator was the only civilian to command the second Convict settlement at Norfolk Island, being in All but one were military officers, brought up in a system where discipline was inhumanely severe throughout the period of transportation. In addition, the commandants relied on a large number of military guards, civil overseers, ex-convict constables, and convict informers to provide them with intelligence and carry out their orders.

Of the Commandants, only Alexander Maconochie appeared to reach the conclusion that brutality would breed defiance, as demonstrated by the mutinies of 1826, 1834 and 1846, and he attempted to apply his theories of penal reform, providing incentives as well as punishment. Alexander Maconochie (11 February 1787&ndash25 October 1860 was a Scottish naval officer geographer and Penal reformer. His methods were criticised as being too lenient and he was replaced, a move that returned the settlement to its harsh rule.

The second penal settlement began to be wound down by the British Government after 1847 and the last convicts were removed to Tasmania in May 1855. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass It was abandoned because transportation to Van Diemen's Land had ceased in 1853 and was replaced by penal servitude in the United Kingdom. Penal labour or penal servitude is a form of Unfree labour. The term may refer to two different notions labour as a form of punishment and labour as a form of occupation

Settlement by Pitcairn Islanders

On 8 June 1856, the next settlement began on Norfolk Island. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year These were the descendants of Tahitians and the Bounty mutineers, resettled from the Pitcairn Islands, which had become too small for their growing population. For the book about the mutiny by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall see Mutiny on the Bounty (novel. The British government had permitted the transfer of the Pitcairners to Norfolk, which was thus established as a colony separate from New South Wales but under the administration of that colony's governor. They left Pitcairn Islands on the May 3, 1856 and arrived with 194 persons on June 8. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable

The Pitcairners occupied many of the buildings remaining from the penal settlements, and gradually established their traditional farming and whaling industries on the island. Although some families decided to return to Pitcairn in 1858 and 1863, the island's population continued to slowly grow as the island accepted settlers, often arriving with whaling fleets.

In 1867, the headquarters of the Melanesian Mission of the Church of England were established on the island, and in 1882 the church of St. Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Barnabas was erected to the memory of the Mission's head Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, with windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones and executed by William Morris. John Coleridge Patteson ( April 1, 1827 - September 20, 1871) was an Anglican Bishop and Martyr. Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones 1st Baronet (28 August 1833 &ndash 17 June 1898 was an English Artist and Designer closely associated with the later William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896 was an English Architect, Furniture and Textile designer artist writer and socialist associated In 1920 the Mission was relocated from the island to the Solomon Islands to be closer to its target population. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands

Twentieth century

This stamp was issued in 1981 to commemorate the first landing of an aircraft at the island, Sir Francis Chichester's Gypsy Moth "Mme Elijah", at Cascade Bay on March 28, 1931. Sir Francis Chichester ( September 17 1901 &ndash August 26 1972) aviator and sailor was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for becoming Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

After the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, Norfolk Island was placed under the authority of the new Commonwealth government to be administered as an external territory. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

During World War II, the island became a key airbase and refuelling depot between Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Norfolk Island Airport is the only airport on Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands Since Norfolk Island fell within New Zealand's area of responsibility it was garrisoned by a New Zealand Army unit known as N Force at a large Army camp which had the capacity to house a 1,500 strong force. New Zealand Army ( Maori: Ngāti Tumatauenga, "Tribe of the God of war" is the land Armed force of the New Zealand military N Force was a small New Zealand Army unit which garrisoned Norfolk Island between October 1942 and February 1944 N Force relieved a company of the Second Australian Imperial Force. The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF was the name given to the Volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. The island proved too remote to come under attack during the war and N Force left the island in February 1944.

In 1979, Norfolk was granted limited self-government by Australia, under which the island elects a government that runs most of the island's affairs. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. As such, residents of Norfolk Island are not represented in the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, making them the only group of residents of an Australian state or territory not represented there. The Parliament of Australia or Commonwealth Parliament is the legislative branch of government of Australia.

In 2006, a formal review process took place, in which the Australian Government considered revising this model of government. The review was completed on December 20, 2006, when it was decided that there would be no changes in the governance of Norfolk Island. ^[16]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is the only non-mainland Australian territory to have achieved self-governance. Politics of Norfolk Island takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic entity The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government The Norfolk Island Act, passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1979, is the Act under which the island is governed. The Parliament of Australia or Commonwealth Parliament is the legislative branch of government of Australia. The Australian Government maintains authority on the island through an Administrator (currently Owen Walsh as Acting Administrator), who is appointed by the Governor-General of Australia. This article describes the federal government of Australia See Australian governments for other jurisdictions The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia of the monarch of Australia (currently Elizabeth II Queen of Australia) A Legislative Assembly is elected by popular vote for a term of not more than three years, although legislation passed by the Australian Parliament can extend its laws to the territory at will, including the power to override any laws made by the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly. Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a Legislature, or to one of its chambers.

The Assembly consists of nine seats, with electors casting nine equal votes, of which no more than two can be given to any individual candidate. It is a method of voting called a "weighted first past the post system". The plurality voting system is a Single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member Four of the members of the Assembly form the Executive Council, which devises policy and acts as an advisory body to the Administrator. The current Chief Minister of Norfolk Island is Andre Nobbs. Andre Nobbs is a political figure from the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. All seats are held by independent candidates. Norfolk Island has yet to embrace party politics. In 2007 a branch of the Australian Labor Party was formed on Norfolk Island, with the aim of reforming the system of government.

The island's official capital is Kingston; it is, however, more a centre of government than a sizeable settlement. Kingston is the Capital of the Australian South Pacific Territory of Norfolk Island.

The most important local holiday is Bounty Day, celebrated on 8 June, in memory of the arrival of the Pitcairn Islanders in 1856. Pitcairn Bounty Day is celebrated on Pitcairn Island on January 23, in commemoration of the burning of the Bounty by the mutineers in 1790 Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable

Local ordinances and acts apply on the island, where most laws are based on the Australian legal system. Australian common law applies when not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law. Suffrage is universal at age eighteen. Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally

As a territory of Australia, Norfolk Island does not have diplomatic representation abroad, or within the territory, and is also not a participant in any international organisations, other than sporting organisations.

The flag is three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band. The flag of Norfolk Island was adopted on January 17, 1980. It depicts the Norfolk Island Pine ( Araucaria heterophylla)

Constitutional status

The exact status of Norfolk Island is controversial. Despite the island's status as a self-governing territory of Australia^[16] administered by the Attorney-General's Department^[17], some Islanders claim that it was actually granted independence at the time Queen Victoria granted permission to Pitcairn Islanders to re-settle on the island. The Attorney-General's Department is an Australian government department Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ^[18] These views have been repeatedly rejected by the Australian parliament's joint committee on territories, most recently in 2004, and were also rejected by the High Court of Australia in Berwick Limited v R R Gray Deputy Commissioner of Taxation. The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in Australia the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. ^[19]

Disagreements over the island's relationship with Australia were put in sharper relief by a 2006 review undertaken by the Australian Government. ^[16] Under the more radical of two models proposed in the review, the island's legislative assembly would have been reduced to the status of a local council. Australia has two tiers of subnational government state (or territory government and local government. ^[20] However, in December 2006, citing the "significant disruption" that changes to the governance would impose on the island's economy, the Australian Government ended the review leaving the existing governance arrangements unaltered. ^[21]

Immigration and citizenship

The island is subject to separate immigration controls from the remainder of the nation.

Australian citizens and residents from other parts of the nation do not have automatic right of residence on the island. Australian citizens must carry either a passport or a Document of Identity to travel to Norfolk Island. A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder A Document of Identity is a form of identification issued to Australian Citizens by the Federal Government of Australia. Citizens of all other nations must carry a passport to travel to Norfolk Island even if arriving from other parts of Australia. Holders of Australian visas who travel to Norfolk Island have departed the Australian Migration Zone. Unless they hold a multiple-entry visa, the visa will have ceased; in which case they will require another visa to re-enter mainland Australia. ^[22]

Residency on Norfolk Island requires sponsorship by an existing resident of Norfolk Island or a business operating on the island. Temporary residency may also be granted to skilled workers necessary for the island's services (for example, medical, government and teaching staff).

Non-Australian citizens who are permanent residents of Norfolk Island may apply for Australian citizenship after meeting normal residence requirements and are eligible to take up residence in mainland Australia at any time through the use of a Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa. A Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa is a type of Australian Immigration visa granted on arrival in Australia to a non- citizen who ^[22] Children born on Norfolk Island are Australian citizens as specified by Australian nationality law. Australian nationality law is based primarily on the principle of Jus soli.

Non-Australian citizens who are Australian permanent residents should be aware that during their stay on Norfolk Island they are "outside of Australia" for the purposes of the Migration Act. Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of the Commonwealth of This means that not only will they need a still-valid migrant visa or Resident return visa to return from Norfolk Island to the mainland, but also the time spent in Norfolk Island won't be counted for satisfying the residence requirement for obtaining a Resident return visa in the future. ^[22] On the other hand, as far as Australian nationality law is concerned, Norfolk Island is a part of Australia, and any time spent by an Australian permanent resident on Norfolk Island apparently would count as time spent in Australia for the purposes of applying for Australian citizenship. Australian nationality law is based primarily on the principle of Jus soli. ^[23]

Medicare

Medicare does not cover Norfolk Island. This article describes the Australian universal health scheme Medicare ^[24] All visitors to Norfolk Island, including Australians, are recommended to purchase travel insurance. Serious medical conditions are not treated on the island; rather, the patient is flown back to mainland Australia. Air charter transport can cost in the order of $25,000.

Crime

Though usually peaceful, Norfolk Island has been the site of two murders in the 21st century. Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries ^[25] In 2002, Janelle Patton, an Australian living on the island, was murdered. Janelle Patton was a Sydney woman who was brutally murdered on Norfolk Island in 2002 ^[26] Two years later, the Deputy Chief Minister of the island, Ivens Buffett, was found shot dead, becoming the first Australian minister to be murdered in office. Deputy chief minister is an optional post in some States of India second to the Chief minister. Ivens François "Toon" Buffett was a political figure from the Australian External Territory of Norfolk Island. ^[27] Crime incidence is generally low on the island, although recent reports indicate that petty theft and dangerous driving are becoming more prevalent.

The Patton murder prompted considerable debate, with some residents arguing that traditional loyalties would prevent a local being charged. In February 2006, however, 28-year-old New Zealand chef Glenn McNeill was arrested and charged with Patton's murder. ^[26] McNeill had been working on Norfolk at the time, and claimed at hearings in Australia and on Norfolk Island that he accidentally hit Patton with his car, a statement he later retracted. His trial ended on March 9, 2007, when the 11-person jury returned a guilty verdict. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[28]

On July 25, 2007, McNeill was sentenced to a maximum 24 years in jail. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Norfolk Island's Chief Justice Mark Weinberg, in a sentence handed down in a Sydney courthouse and broadcast live to Norfolk Island's court, said McNeill may be eligible for release after a minimum 18 years in prison. McNeill will serve his sentence in Australia. ^[29]

Economy

Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel As Norfolk Island prohibits the importation of fresh fruit and vegetables, most produce is grown locally. Beef is both produced locally and imported. Beef is the Culinary name for Meat from Bovines especially domestic Cattle (cows

The Australian Government controls the exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles (370 km) around Norfolk Island (370 km) and territorial sea claims to three nautical miles (6 km) from the island. The exclusive economic zone provides the islanders with fish, its only major natural resource. Norfolk Island has no direct control over any marine areas but has an agreement with the Commonwealth through the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to fish "recreationally" in a small section of the EEZ known locally as "the Box". While there is speculation that the zone may include oil and gas deposits this is not proven. ^[20]

There are no major arable lands or permanent farmlands, though about 25 per cent of the island is a permanent pasture. There is no irrigated land.

The island uses the Australian dollar as its currency. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is

Taxes

Residents of Norfolk Island do not pay Australian federal taxes,^[30] creating a tax haven for locals and visitors alike. A tax haven is a place where certain Taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all Since there is no income tax, the island's legislative assembly raises money through an import duty. For other uses of this word see Tariff (disambiguation. A tariff is a tax imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary ^[20][30]

Demographics

The population of Norfolk Island was estimated in July 2003 to be 1,853, with an annual population growth rate of -0. 01%. In July 2003, 20. 2% of the population were 14 years and under, 63. 9% were 15 to 64 years and 15. 9% were 65 years and over.

Most Islanders are of either European-only or combined European-Tahitian ancestry, being descendants of the Bounty mutineers as well as more recent arrivals from Australia and New Zealand. White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. For the book about the mutiny by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall see Mutiny on the Bounty (novel. About half of the islanders can trace their roots back to Pitcairn Island^[20].

This common heritage has led to a limited number of surnames amongst the Islanders — a limit constraining enough that the island's telephone directory lists people by nickname (such as Cane Toad, Dar Bizziebee, Kik Kik, Lettuce Leaf, Mutty, Oot, Paw Paw, Snoop, Tarzan, and Wiggy)^[20]. A surname is a name added to a Given name and is part of a Personal name.

The majority of Islanders are Protestant Christians. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings In 1996, 37. 4% identified as Anglican, 14. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs 5% as Uniting Church, 11. The Uniting Church in Australia ( UCA) was formed on June 22 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, 5% as Roman Catholic and 3. 1% as Seventh-day Adventist. The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance

Literacy is not recorded officially, but it can be assumed to be roughly at a par with Australia's literacy rate, as Islanders attend a school which uses a New South Wales curriculum, before traditionally moving to the mainland for further study. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen,

Islanders speak both English and a creole language known as Norfuk, a blend of 1700s English and Tahitian. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin. Norfuk (increasingly spelled Norfolk) is the Language spoken on Norfolk Island by the local residents Tahitian, a Tahitic language, is one of the two official languages of French Polynesia (along with French) The Norfuk language is decreasing in popularity as more tourists travel to the island and more young people leave for work and study reasons; however, there are efforts to keep it alive via dictionaries and the renaming of some tourist attractions to their Norfuk equivalents. In April 2005, it was declared a co-official language of the island.

Emigration is growing as many Islanders take advantage of the close ties between Norfolk and Australia and New Zealand. "Emigrant" redirects here For the Butterflies, see Catopsilia. The sole school on the island provides education to Australian Year 12; therefore, any student seeking to complete tertiary study must travel overseas. Additionally, the small economy of the island causes many skilled workers to emigrate as well.

Transport and communications

There are no railways, waterways, ports or harbours on the island. ^[31] Loading jetties are located at Kingston and Cascade, but ships cannot get close to either of them. When a supply ship arrives, it is emptied by whaleboats towed by launches, five tonnes at a time. Which jetty is used depends on the prevailing weather on the day. The jetty on the leeward side of the island is often used. If the wind changes significantly during unloading/loading, the ship will move around to the other side. Visitors often gather to watch the activity when a supply ship arrives.

There is one airport, Norfolk Island Airport. Norfolk Island Airport is the only airport on Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia. ^[32]

There are 80 km (50 mi) of roads on the island, "little more than country lanes", but local law gives cows the right of way. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States ^[20]

As of 2004, 2532 telephone main lines are in use, a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits. ^[32] Satellite service is planned. This article is about artificial satellites For natural satellites also known as moons see Natural satellite.

There is one TV station featuring local programming Norfolk TV, plus transmitters for ABC TV and Southern Cross Television. Norfolk TV is a channel on Norfolk Island (near Australia) broadcasting information and news about the island children's shows in the morning and some sitcoms in ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956 Southern Cross Television, or Southern Cross, is an Australian television network available in Tasmania, Darwin, Regional South

The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is .nf. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Country codes are short alphabetic or numeric geographical Codes ( Geocodes developed to represent countries and dependent areas for use in data processing A country

Culture

While there was no "indigenous" culture on the Island at the time of settlement, the Tahitian influence of the Pitcairn settlers has resulted in some aspects of Polynesian culture being adapted to that of Norfolk, including the hula dance. Hula (ˈhuːlə is a dance form accompanied by chant or song It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there Local cuisine also shows influences from the same region.

Islanders traditionally spend a lot of time outdoors, with fishing and other aquatic pursuits being common pastimes, an aspect which has become more noticeable as the island becomes more accessible to tourism. Most island families have at least one member involved in primary production in some form.

As all the Pitcairn settlers were related to each other, Islanders have historically been informal both to each other and to visitors. The most noticeable aspect of this is the "Norfolk Wave", with drivers waving to each other (ranging from a wave using the entire arm through to a raised index finger from the steering wheel) as they pass.

Religious observance remains an important part of life for most Islanders, particularly the older generations. Businesses tend to be closed on Mondays, for example.

One of the island's residents is the novelist Colleen McCullough, whose works include The Thorn Birds and the Masters of Rome series as well as Morgan's Run, set, in large part, on Norfolk Island. Colleen McCullough AO (born 1 June 1937 is an internationally acclaimed Australian author The Thorn Birds is a 1977 best-selling Novel by Colleen McCullough, an Australian author Masters of Rome is a series of Historical fiction Novels by author Colleen McCullough (b

Helen Reddy also moved to the island for a period but was denied a long term entry permit. Helen Reddy (born October 25, 1941) is an Australian/American Singer / Songwriter.

References

• Anderson, Atholl J. , The Prehistoric Archaeology of Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, Canberra, Australian National Museum, 2001.
• Andrew Kippis, The Life and Voyages of Captain James Cook, Westminster 1788, Reprint London and New York 1904, pp. Andrew Kippis ( 28 March 1725 &ndash 8 October 1795) was an English Nonconformist clergyman and Biographer. 246 ff

History of penal settlements:

• Clark, Manning, A History of Australia, Vols. Charles Manning Hope Clark AC I–III, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1962, 1968, 1973. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Melbourne University Publishing (MUP is the book publishing arm of the University of Melbourne ( Australia)
• Hazzard, Margaret, Punishment Short of Death: a history of the penal settlement at Norfolk Island, Melbourne, Hyland, 1984. Margaret Hazzard is an Australian Author native to Norfolk Island. (ISBN 0-908090-64-1)
• Hughes, Robert, The Fatal Shore, London, Pan, 1988. Robert Studley Forrest Hughes AO (born 28 July 1938 is an Australian born Art critic, writer and television documentary maker who has resided (ISBN 0-330-29892-5)
• Wright, R., The Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land, Sydney, Library of Australian History, 1986. Sir Reginald Charles Wright ( 10 July 1905 &ndash 10 March 1990) was an Australian politician a Liberal Party Senator
• Clarke, Marcus, For the Term of his Natural Life (novel)

Citations

External links

• Official government website
• Norfolk Island at Wikitravel
• The Guides to Norfolk Island
• Open Directory Project - Norfolk Island directory category
• Norfolk Island subtropical forests, from the WWF
• Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
• Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?: Inquiry into Governance on Norfolk Island
• Inquiry into Governance on Norfolk Island: Part 2 - Financial Sustainability of Current Governance Arrangements
• Anglican history on Norfolk Island Primary texts and photographs
• Norfolk Island and Its Inhabitants 1879 account by Joseph Campbell

Panoramic view of Norfolk Island with Nepean and Phillip Islands in the distance.