A piece of Norfolk Island's history

The Emily Bay and the Second Settlement

22 Oct 2014 | From Lyn of Norfolk Island

SURPRISE POSTCARD

This is the third postcard I've received from Lyn - such a pleasant surprise from her. The postcard shows an aerial view of the Emily Bay and government buildings dating from the Second Settlement (1825~55). Emily Bay is the island's main swimming beach. Located at the eastern end of Kingston, the bay has a reef at its sea-side edge, protecting it from waves and making it a safe and beautiful area for swimming and snorkeling.

About the Norfolk Island's Second Settlement, it was considered as the Hell of the Pacific; a place dominated by death and despair. In 1825, after eleven years drowsing in the sun, Norfolk Island was elected by His Majesty's Government to be the site of another colony. It was designated to become `a place of the severest punishment short of death'.

Sights and scenes: Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island, South Pacific

10 Sept 2014 | From Lyn of Norfolk Island

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Cliff top at Simons Water (photo by Keith Jackson), Kingston, Kingston Aerial view, Burnt Pine street view

Norfolk Island was a penal colony for the British colony of New South Wales during the periods 1788–1814 and 1825–1855. In 1856 it was settled by former inhabitants of the second largest of the Pitcairn Islands. Permanent residents of Norfolk Island are still almost entirely descendants of these Pitcairn Islanders; other Australian citizens cannot move to Norfolk Island freely.

The postcard shows a myriad of sights Norfolk Island has to offer. Simon’s Water, almost at the end of Stockyard Road, has been a part of Norfolk Island’s history since the earliest convict days. The land was granted to Simon Young, and the name “Simon’s Water” was first used for the waterfall and creek at the other end of the property from the road. Today, Simon’s Water is owned by Bernie Christian-Bailey. It is used for farming. Vegetables and Coffee are grown, and cattle, horses and pigs are kept there. 

Kingston is the capital of the Australian South Pacific Territory of Norfolk Island. The town is the second-oldest in Australia, and is of great historical and cultural significance to all Norfolk Islanders and other Australians. Kingston is the township founded on Norfolk by the First Settlers. It was subsequently the main township during the Second and early Third Settlements. Today the main commercial centre is Burnt Pine, with Kingston being the main administrative and historical centre of the island. It is built on the only flat, sea-level land available on Norfolk.

Burnt Pine is the largest town on Norfolk Island. It is the main commercial hub of the island, and travel from one side of the island to another generally involves passing through Burnt Pine. 

Sources: Living Library, Pitcairners

My first postcard from Norfolk Island

Unloading the boat - Cascade Jetty, Norfolk Island

10 Sept 2014 | From Lyn of Norfolk Island

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Norfolk Island is a pine-studded speck adrift in the South Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance. Together with two neighbouring islands, it forms one of Australia's external territories. Its capital is Kingston.

Originally settled by East Polynesians, Norfolk Island was colonised by Great Britain as part of its settlement of Australia in 1788. The island served as a convict penal settlement until May 1855, except for an 11-year hiatus between 1814 and 1825, when it was abandoned. In 1856 permanent civilian residence on the island began when it was settled from Pitcairn. In 1901, the island became a part of the Commonwealth of Australia.

When a ship arrives at Norfolk Island it anchors about one kilometre off shore at either Cascade Bay on the east coast or at Kingston on the south coast. Lighters, manned by the local men, carry goods to the jettys. Lyn shared that this is how all their vehicles, goods, and food arrive.