Norfolk Islands HIstory Infoplease
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island (nŸr'fuk) [key], island (2005 est. pop. 1,800), 13 sq mi (34 sq km), South Pacific, a territory of Australia, c.1,035 mi (1,670 km) NE of Sydney. Now a resort, Norfolk has luxuriant vegetation and is known for its ÏpineÓ trees, which are not true pines but evergreens of the araucaria family. Explored in 1774 by Capt. James Cook, the island was claimed by Great Britain in the hope that the trees would provide masts for the navy. When the wood proved unsatisfactory, Norfolk was made into a prison island (1788Ò1855). In 1856 the prisoners were removed and some of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers were moved to Norfolk from Pitcairn Island. Norfolk Island was annexed to Tasmania in 1844, became a dependency of New South Wales in 1896, and was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1913. Many of the old prison colony buildings have been restored and contribute to the island's main industry, tourism. There are natural gas deposits south of the island. Limited self-rule was granted to Norfolk Island in 1979.
See study by M. Hoare (1971).
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