Norfolk History

There have been four distinct settlement phases of Norfolk Island. The first phase was Polynesian settlement, around 1200AD, most likely from the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand, but inexplicably abandoned around 1500AD. The second settlement was a British penal colony established in 1788, making Norfolk Island the first British island in the South Pacific. This colony was also abandoned in 1814 due to hardship, and the colony destroyed to discourage any subsequent occupation. The third settlement from 1825 was also a penal colony, but much more brutal than the previous, until British opinion turned on such punishment, and the colony was closed in 1855. Today the remains of this penal colony are a World Heritage listed cultural site. Now we have the current and fourth settlement from 1856, when Queen Victoria gifted the island to descendants of the Bounty mutineers wishing to leave Pitcairn Island due to overcrowding. The new arrivals originally lived in the abandoned second penal colony before dividing the island in to 12 acre lots. With them they brought a unique culture from Pitcairn Island, particularly their indigenous language; a blend of Old English and Tahitian. The island is now in the process of being transferred to a territory of Australia, making a movement towards a sort of fifth settlement phase with much resistance from the resident population.

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