New Norfolk, Tasmania

New Norfolk
New Norfolk; Tasmania
	New Norfolk town in Autumn
	New Norfolk
Coordinates	42°46′58″S147°03′34″E / 42.78278°S 147.05944°E Coordinates: 42°46′58″S147°03′34″E / 42.78278°S 147.05944°E
Population	5,230 (2006 census) [1]
Postcode(s)	7140
Location	32 km (20 mi) from Hobart ; 38 km (24 mi) from Hamilton ; 213 km (132 mi) from Queenstown ;
LGA(s)	Derwent Valley Council
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons

Last updated April 27, 2019

New Norfolk is a town on the Derwent River, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. At the 2011 census, New Norfolk had a population of 5,543.^[1]

Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is located 240 km (150 mi) to the south of the Australian mainland, separated by Bass Strait. The state encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th-largest island in the world, and the surrounding 334 islands. The state has a population of around 526,700 as of March 2018. Just over forty percent of the population resides in the Greater Hobart precinct, which forms the metropolitan area of the state capital and largest city, Hobart.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Situated 32 kilometres (20 mi) north-west of Hobart on the Lyell Highway, New Norfolk is a modern Australian regional centre which retains evidence of its pioneer heritage. Two examples of this heritage are Tasmania's oldest Anglican church, St. Matthews (built in 1823) and one of Australia's oldest hotels, The Bush Inn (Tasmania), trading continuously in the same building (built in 1815) since issue of the first licence on 29 September 1825.^[2] Many private homes from the 1820s have also survived, such as Glen Derwent, Valleyfield, and Woodbridge.

Hobart is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. With a population of approximately 225,000, it is the least populated Australian state capital city, and second smallest if territories are taken into account. Founded in 1804 as a British penal colony, Hobart, formerly known as Hobart Town or Hobarton, is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney, New South Wales. Prior to British settlement, the Hobart area had been occupied for possibly as long as 35,000 years, by the semi-nomadic Mouheneener tribe, a sub-group of the Nuennone, or South-East tribe. The descendants of these Aboriginal Tasmanians often refer to themselves as 'Palawa'.

The Lyell Highway is a highway in Tasmania, running from Hobart to Queenstown. It is the one of two transport routes that passes through the West Coast Range, the other being the Anthony Road (B28).

History

Before European Settlement

Before colonization by the British, the area now known as New Norfolk was occupied by the Leenowwenne clan, one of five clans of the Big River nation.

Resettlement of Norfolk Islanders

Approximately 163 of the pioneers who settled around the town were from the 554 folk resettled when the first Norfolk Island settlement was closed, most arriving during the period between 29 November 1807 and 2 October 1808.^[3] These Norfolk Islanders were mainly farming families, who were offered land grants in Tasmania as compensation for their relocation.

Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, 1,412 kilometres (877 mi) directly east of mainland Australia's Evans Head, and about 900 kilometres (560 mi) from Lord Howe Island. Together with the two neighbouring islands Phillip Island and Nepean Island it forms one of the Commonwealth of Australia's external territories. At the 2016 Australian census, it had 1748 inhabitants living on a total area of about 35 km² (14 sq mi). Its capital is Kingston.

The climate was colder than sub-tropical Norfolk Island, which proved a challenge for the hardy pioneers during the first few years, but eventually the district became self-supporting. In 1825 the original name of the town, Elizabeth Town, was changed to New Norfolk in honour of their former home.

Many founding folk were "First Fleeters", transferred from Sydney to Norfolk Island when it was settled just a few weeks after Sydney. Ten First Fleeters are buried in the Methodist Chapel at Lawitta, New Norfolk.

Notable is Betty King, née Elizabeth Thackery, a first fleet convict girl who married at New Norfolk on the 28th January 1810. The headstone on Betty's well-tended grave reads, "The first white woman to set foot in Australia" from the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. She is also believed to be the last surviving First Fleeter, male or female, when she died at 89 years of age on 7 August 1856. Her husband was Marine Private Samuel King of the First Marine Regiment, another First Fleeter who arrived aboard the warship "Sirius". Sam King was the last male "First Fleeter" to survive until 21 October 1849, aged 86 years.

Elizabeth Thackery, died age 89 years, and is the last known survivor of the First Fleet, male or female, and was generally known throughout her long lifetime as the first convict female to land in Australia. Her husband Samuel King is thought to be the last male survivor of the "First Fleet".

Nine other First Fleeters were Ellen Guy (née Wainright), James Bryan Cullen, William Dempsey, William Edmunds, William Foyle, Abraham Hand, Stephen Martin, John Ruglass, and Edward Westlake.

The pioneers were successful farmers of the rich land around the town. Initially cattle and sheep were predominant, with some cropping as land was cleared. Hop plants were introduced in 1846, and became an important crop. A number of hop drying kilns or "oast houses" remain in the area including those at Glen Derwent (built by Cullen) and Valleyfield.^[4]

Later history

The first road connecting the town to Hobart was built in 1818.

On 19 April 1827, Governor George Arthur issued an order to create the Willow Court infirmary, later known as Lachlan Park and most recently the Royal Derwent Hospital, as an asylum to accept sick and invalid convicts from Hobart, Launceston and outstations. Willow Court is now a large antiques centre.

The New Norfolk Post Office opened on 1 June 1832.^[5]

For some years after 1848, New Norfolk was the place of exile of the Irish nationalist leader Terence MacManus. His cottage "Kilburn Grange" still stands. Later he was joined by his fellow Irish rebel, William Smith O'Brien, who lived at Elwin's Hotel (now known as Glen Derwent).

In 1887, the railway, now preserved as the Derwent Valley Railway, was built. In 1888, Australia's first telephone trunk call was connected from Hobart to the Bush Inn Hotel in New Norfolk.^[4]

During the 1940s, a newsprint mill was established at nearby Boyer, boosting industry in the local area.

Transport

New Norfolk is located on the Lyell Highway the main east-west highway in the southern half of the state, running from Hobart to Strahan on the west coast. It is in fact the only east-west road in the southern half of Tasmania.

A rail link was opened in 1887 but was closed in 1995 when floods and declining usage made repairs uneconomic. The line has been used for tourist trips by the Derwent Valley Railway but this has not been possible since 2005 due to lack of support for track maintenance.

New Norfolk is 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Hobart International Airport.

Tourism

New Norfolk is a central location for tourism in the upper Derwent Valley.

New Norfolk is near the tourist attractions of Mount Field, Lake Pedder, Strathgordon, Gordon Dam hydroelectric site, and the South West Wilderness. The Tourist Information Centre staffed by volunteers is located in Circle Street next to the Council Chambers at the top end of High Street.

In 2013 Martin Cash Pizza was voted best pizza maker in Tasmania.^{[ citation needed ]}

Many of the historical farm house mansions, such as Glen Derwent and Tynwald, operate as bed and breakfast accommodation, tea rooms, restaurants and wedding venues.

The 1825 Heritage listed Woodbridge on the Derwent, on the river next to the bridge, operates as a small luxury hotel, and is presently one of more than 10 5-star hotels in Tasmania, although the building is located only 6 metres from a major highway carrying log trucks 24 hours a day. It draws a clientele from all over the world.

It has a long and interesting history. Built by hand by convicts for Captain Roadknight, the first Constable of the then Elizabeth Town, it was later owned by William Sharland, assistant surveyor of Tasmania, and his descendants. William Sharland constructed the wooden bridge across the Derwent next to Woodbridge - this was the first bridge across the Derwent, and the original Tollhouse still stands today.

By the 1950s, Woodbridge was derelict, and was converted into 7 flats. Again, by 2003, it was again derelict, and It was completely restored between 2003 and 2005. The restoration won the 2005 Tasmanian Restoration of the Year Award, and the 2006 Australian Restoration of the Year Award The building is unique in that it was built in the prevailing simple Georgian style, but it has an octagonal three storey central tower, reminiscent of French chateau.

Climate

New Norfolk is the warmest area of Tasmania in summer and has a cool temperate oceanic climate that is classified as Cfb under Köppen Climate Classification.

Climate data for New Norfolk, 1965-1983
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	39.4 (102.9)	39.4 (102.9)	37.8 (100)	29.0 (84.2)	23.8 (74.8)	19.6 (67.3)	20.0 (68)	23.1 (73.6)	27.6 (81.7)	31.1 (88)	36.1 (97)	37.2 (99)	39.4 (102.9)
Average high °C (°F)	25.2 (77.4)	25.0 (77)	22.2 (72)	18.3 (64.9)	14.2 (57.6)	11.0 (51.8)	9.9 (49.8)	10.9 (51.6)	14.5 (58.1)	17.6 (63.7)	19.3 (66.7)	22.7 (72.9)	17.3 (63.1)
Average low °C (°F)	10.8 (51.4)	11.3 (52.3)	9.5 (49.1)	7.0 (44.6)	4.4 (39.9)	2.1 (35.8)	1.3 (34.3)	2.2 (36)	4.5 (40.1)	6.2 (43.2)	8.2 (46.8)	9.8 (49.6)	6.6 (43.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−1.2 (29.8)	2.0 (35.6)	0.3 (32.5)	−1.0 (30.2)	−3.4 (25.9)	−5.7 (21.7)	−4.0 (24.8)	−2.8 (27)	−3.0 (26.6)	−1.5 (29.3)	0.0 (32)	1.2 (34.2)	−5.7 (21.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	39.8 (1.567)	34.6 (1.362)	38.7 (1.524)	47.6 (1.874)	44.0 (1.732)	48.6 (1.913)	48.4 (1.906)	46.6 (1.835)	49.0 (1.929)	55.0 (2.165)	47.2 (1.858)	49.6 (1.953)	548.9 (21.61)
Average precipitation days	8.0	6.8	8.8	10.1	11.1	12.0	13.0	13.9	13.2	13.8	12.0	10.8	133.5
Source: ^[6]

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References

1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "New Norfolk (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
↑ "Bush Inn holds title of Australia's oldest pub" . Retrieved 2011-10-15.
↑ New Norfolk History 1986 ISBN 1-86252-303-7
1 2 "Derwent Valley". University of Tasmania. 2006. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
↑ "Climate statistics for New Norfolk". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 15 October 2011.

External links

New Norfolk, Tasmania - Capital of the Derwent Valley - Australia has extensive local information, history, photographs, resources and attractions

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[Census2011Y-1] 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "New Norfolk (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 December 2014.

[2] "Bush Inn holds title of Australia's oldest pub" . Retrieved 2011-10-15.

[3] New Norfolk History 1986 ISBN 1-86252-303-7

[utas_derwentvalley-4] 1 2 "Derwent Valley". University of Tasmania. 2006. Retrieved 2009-12-05.

[Post_Office-5] Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.

[6] "Climate statistics for New Norfolk". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 15 October 2011.