Norfolk Island is a small
inhabited island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New
Zealand and New Caledonia, and along with two neighbouring islands forms
one of Australia's external territories.
The
Norfolk Island pine, a symbol of the island pictured in its flag, is a
striking evergreen tree native to the island and is quite popular in
Australia, where two related species also grow.
Norfolk Island is located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
Norfolk Island is the main island of the island group the territory
encompasses and is located at 29°02′S 167°57′E. It has an area of 34.6 km˛
(13.3 mi˛), with no large-scale internal bodies of water but 32 km of
coastline. The island's highest point is Mt. Bates (319 m above sea
level), located in the northwest quadrant of the island. The majority of
the terrain is suitable for farming and other agricultural uses. Phillip
Island, the second largest island of the territory, is located at 29°07′S
167°57′E, several kilometres south of the main island.
The coastline of Norfolk Island consists, to varying degrees, of cliff
faces. A downward slope exists towards Sydney Bay and Emily Bay, the site
of the original colonial settlement of Kingston. There are no safe harbour
facilities on Norfolk Island, with loading jetties existing at Kingston
and Cascade Bay. All goods not domestically produced are brought in by
ship, usually to Cascade Bay. Emily Bay, protected from the Pacific Ocean
by a small coral reef, is the only safe area for recreational swimming,
although surfing waves can sometimes be found in Ball Bay.
The climate is subtropical and mild, with little seasonal differentiation.
The island is a volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains.
The area surrounding Mt. Bates is preserved as the Norfolk Island National
Park. The park, covering around 10% of the land of the island, contains
remnants of the forests which originally covered the island, including
stands of subtropical rainforest.
The park also includes the two smaller islands to the south of Norfolk
Island, Nepean Island and Phillip Island. The vegetation of Phillip Island
was devastated due to the introduction during the penal era of pest
animals such as pigs and rabbits, giving it a red-brown colour as viewed
from Norfolk; however, pest control and remediation work by park staff has
recently brought some improvement to the Phillip Island environment.
The major settlement on the Island is Burnt Pine, located predominantly
along Taylor's Road, where the shopping centre, post office, liquor store,
telephone exchange and community hall are located. Settlement also exists
over much of the island, consisting largely of widely-separated
homesteads.
Government House, the official residence of the Administrator, is located
on Quality Row in what was the penal settlement of Kingston. Other
government buildings, including the court, Legislative Assembly and
Administration, are also located there. Kingston's role is largely a
ceremonial one, however, with most of the economic impetus coming from
Burnt Pine.
While there was no "indigenous" culture on the Island at the time of
settlement, the Tahitian influence of the Pitcairn settlers has resulted
in some aspects of Polynesian culture being adapted to that of Norfolk,
including the hula dance. Local cuisine also shows influences from the
same region.
Islanders are traditionally "outdoorsy" people, with fishing and other
acquatic pursuits being common pastimes, an aspect which has become more
noticeable as the island becomes more accessible to tourism. Most island
families have at least one member involved in primary production in some
form.
As all the Pitcairn settlers were related to each other, Islanders have
historically been informal both to each other and to visitors. The most
noticeable aspect of this is the "Norfolk Wave", with drivers waving to
each other (ranging from a wave using the entire arm through to a raised
index finger from the steering wheel) as they pass.
Religious observance remains an important part of life for most Islanders,
particularly the older generations. Businesses tend to be closed on
Mondays, for example.
One of the island's residents is the novelist Colleen McCullough, whose
works include The Thorn Birds and the Masters of Rome series as well as
Morgan's Run, set, in large part, on Norfolk Island.
Helen Reddy also moved to the island for a period but was denied a long
term entry permit and has since moved on.
