New Norfolk, Tasmania
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New Norfolk Tasmania |
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New Norfolk town in Autumn
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 New Norfolk
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| Coordinates | 42°46′58″S 147°03′34″E / 42.78278°S 147.05944°ECoordinates: 42°46′58″S 147°03′34″E / 42.78278°S 147.05944°E |
| Population | 5,230 (2006 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 7140 |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Derwent Valley Council |
| State electorate(s) | Lyons |
| Federal Division(s) | Lyons |
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.
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. Many private homes from the 1820s have also survived.
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.
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. These Norfolk Islanders were mainly farming families, who were offered land grants in Tasmania as compensation for their relocation.
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.
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