New Norfolk, on the River Derwent, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia, is about 37 km north of Hobart.
As Tasmania's third oldest town, New Norfolk was established in 1807.
Leenowwenne People
The Leenowwenne, who lived around New Norfolk (wulawali), were part of the Big River nation, which numbered 400–500 people consisting of five clans.
According to Rhys Jones (1974), the social organisation of Tasmanian Aboriginal society appears to have consisted of three social units, these being the hearth group, the band (clan) and the tribe (nation).
Jones believed there were nine tribes and between 70 and 85 bands in Tasmania.
The hearth group was the basic family unit, consisting of a man and woman, their children, aged relatives and sometimes friends and other relatives.
The clan, the basic social unit, was comprised of a number of hearth groups (Jones 1974).
The clan's territory would be a geographical area with boundaries such as rivers and lagoons.
Tasmanian Aboriginal people were separated from mainland Australia for about 8,000 years until European arrival. Before this time, Tasmania was
connected to mainland Australia by a land bridge until sea levels rose at the end of the Ice Age and separated Tasmania from the Australian mainland.
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| Parabéri, an adult male, Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes (Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Lands), 1824 |
1700s
The French explorer Bruni D'Entrecasteaux's expedition found the Derwent River in 1793.
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| French naval D'Entrecasteaux's expedition exploration of the Australian, 1792-3, while searching for the La Pérouse expedition. Found the mouth of a river which received the name Rivière du Nord – it was renamed the Derwent River a few months later by the next visitor to this area, Captain John Hayes in Duke of Clarence and Duchess. |
In 1798-99, Matthew Flinders and George Bass sailed in the Norfolk to circumnavigate Tasmania – proving the existence of Bass Strait. They also explored Derwent river inlets.
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| George Bass and Matthew Flinders sailed the sloop Norfolk from Sydney to resolve the question– was Van Diemen's Land joined to the mainland of Australia? |
1800s
In 1804, surveyor James Meehan, followed the Derwent to
near the present-day Meadowbank Dam before travelling eastwards towards the Jordan River.
Between 1807 and 1813, the government evacuated Norfolk Island, moving the colonists, convicts, guards, etc. to Van Diemen's Land. New Norfolk was established by Norfolk Islanders in the years 1807 to 1808.
More than 150 people from Norfolk Island were resettled in "the Hills". The settlers, many of them "First Fleeters", were
transferred from Sydney to Norfolk Island and then to New Norfolk.
Elizabeth Thackery (King) (c.1765 - 1856) of Manchester, Lancashire, an English convict tried on 4 May 1786, and sentenced to seven years' transportion, died at Back River, New Norfolk on 7 August 1856. She had had 20 acres in her own name at New Norfolk. Her grave read, The first white woman to set foot in Australia".
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.
George Guest, was
recommended by Major Joseph Foveaux as a most industrious settler, and he arrived with his wife and 6 children.
The first person to build a house at New Norfolk was Denis McCarty -a former Irish convict.I n April 1808 he was appointed constable at New Norfolk and he built the first house.
The district was originally called The Hills.
Mrs Ann Bridger, who had spent time on Norfolk Island, obtained a grant of land in 1810, where the Bush Inn would later be built (1815-25).
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| Derwent Star and Van Diemen's Land Intelligencer (Hobart, Tas. : 1810 - 1812), Friday 7 February 1812 |
Governor Macquarie visited the Derwent Valley area in 1811 and directed that a township be laid out which he named Elizabeth Town (now New Norfolk).
In the early days, the Derwent River was the best way to transport
produce and to travel to Hobart.
"Valleyfield" was granted to two ex-convicts, William and Mary Abel, by Governor Lachlan Macquarie on 20 September 1813. They operated an inn in the building they constructed.
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| Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter (Tas. : 1816 - 1821), Saturday 9 November 1816 |
"Stanton Farmhouse", New Norfolk, was built in 1817.
1820s
Conflict between British colonists and Aboriginal Tasmanians occurred from the mid-1820s to 1832.
The first Catholic Mass was performed by Father Philip Connolly in 1821.
St. Matthews, Tasmania's oldest Anglican church, was built in 1823.
"Hallgreen", built by the town first doctor, Dr Robert Officer from 1823,
"Woodbridge" was built by convicts for the first Chief Constable, Thomas Roadknight, in 1825.
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| View of the Governor's retreat, New Norfolk, Van Diemen's Land' by Joseph Lycett - 1825 |
The New Norfolk Invalid Hospital and Lunatic Asylum (Willow Court Barracks Precinct) was originally the Invalid Barracks for convicts, first opened in 1827. The hospital expanded in 1830 by Lt-Governor Arthur, housing more than 130 invalids and mentally ill. ( It was called "'Willow Court'" because Lady Franklin planted a willow in the courtyard)
In 1828, Governor George Arthur declared martial law. Read
here
Surveyor William Sharland laid out the town of New Norfolk by 1828. was a pioneer hop-grower and in 1847, imported 50,000 sets from a nursery in Kent. He later represented New Norfolk in the House of Assembly in 1861-72.
"Glen Derwent", convict built,
began as an inn, licensed to Oscar Davis and called the "King of Prussia Inn" in 1829.
1830
The New Norfolk Post Office
opened on 1 June 1832.
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| Colonist and Van Diemen's Land Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1832 - 1834), Friday 30 November 1832 |
Tunnels dating back to the 1830s, under the Bush Inn, are believed to have transferred convicts and patients to the mental health hospital at Willow Court.
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| 'Invalid Hospital, New Norfolk', TAS, by Henry Melville - 1833 |
"Frescati House" was built for Colonial Secretary John Burnett in 1834.
The Old Colony Inn dates from the 1830s.
Irish composer William Vincent Wallace lived at the Bush Inn in 1838 and composed operatic lyrics for
Scenes That Are Brightest and parts of
Maritana on the hotel verandah.
1840s
Irish nationalist leader Terence MacManus stayed in a cottage at "Kilburn Grange", built about 1820, in a Gothic Style.
Irish nationalist leader William Smith O'Brien arrived in Van Diemens Land in July 1849 after his death sentence was commuted to
transportation. He rented a room (the current Green Room) with adjoining lounge for £6 per month at the Elwin’s Hotel (Glen Derwent).
A thriving hops industry developed.
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| New Norfolk V.D Land' by Mary Morton Allport - c1845, Derwent River, Tasmania, Australia |
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| 'Derwent at New Norfolk', TAS, - 1847, The bridge pictured was the first built across the river |
1850s
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| Hobarton Mercury (Tas. : 1854 - 1857), Wednesday 19 July 1854, |
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| Hallgreen, New Norfolk, TAS, as seen from the north bank of the Derwent' by Knud Bull - 1854 |
1860s
This Oast House at the bottom of Tynwald Park was established in 1867.
1870s
Glen Derwent (Downie family) became a hop farm, with the hop kiln being built in 1870.
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| Derwent River near New Norfolk with stookes of hay in field by the riverbank (Anson Brothers Photgrapher) (c1870), Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
1880s
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| New Norfolk, TAS, 1880, NLAUST |
Tasmanian Government Railways opened the Derwent Valley Line in 1887.
The first trunk telephone call in Australia was made to the Bush Inn from the Hobart General Post Office on 1 December 1888.
1890s
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| New Norfolk Railway Station, TAS, 1890 |
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| PS Gem heads to New Norfolk from Hobart in the 1890s (Government House), TAS, Trainiac |
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| New Norfolk, TAS, no date, Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
1900s
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| New Norfolk, Tasmania - early 1900s, Aussie Mobs |
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| Bush Inn, New Norfolk, TAS, 1900 |
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| Oatlands - New Norfolk football match - 8 September 1906, Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
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| Picnic group at ferry terminal on River Derwent near New Norfolk, shows ferries in background, Tasmania (c1910), Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
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| Hop growing at New Norfolk, TAS, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 26 March 1910, |
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| New Norfolk Regatta, TAS, three steamers at the wharf. Look like Togo, Marana and the small one is maybe Taranna. W J Little photo, about 1910-13, Trainiac |
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| Taranna, Marana and Togo at New Norfolk for the regatta, TAS. W Williamson photo, 1913, Trainiac |
WWI |
| North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919), Monday 28 May 1917 |
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| Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 9 January 1919 |
1920s
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| SS Maweena moored at New Norfolk, TAS, about 1920, Trainiac |
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| River steamers at the New Norfolk regatta, TAS, 1920, Trainiac |
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| New Norfolk - Bush Hotel (c1920), TAS, Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
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| Hobart Motor Cycle Club run to New Norfol, TAS,. William Fellowes photo, 1923, Trainiac |
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| American sailors visit New Norfolk, TAS, 1925, Trainiac |
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| American sailors at New Norfolk station, TAS, with some local girls during a visit to the town. 1925, Trainiac |
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| Leyland railmotor at the Rocks near New Norfol, TAS,. Beattie photo, 1927, Trainiac |
1930s
The Plaza Theatre on the corner of High Street, opened in 1932.
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| Members of the Civic Club from Hobart at Salmon Ponds, near New Norfolk, Tasmania - circa 1930?. The Civic Club began in 1911. Aussie~mobs |
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| SPECIAL SERVICES were held at thc New Norfolk Methodist Church, TAS, yesterday to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the building of the church. The building contains a gallery and the originalfurnishings. Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 18 December 1933 |
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| Floating swimming pool at New Norfolk, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Friday 14 December 1934 |
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| High St, New Norfolk, TAS, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 4 April 1936, |
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| Municipal Chamber and Library, New Norfolk, TAS, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 4 April 1936, |
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| NEW' NORFOLK WOMEN at the openingof the New Norfolk tennis season on Saturday, TAS. Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 17 November 1936 |
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| NEW CHILD WELFARE CENTRE provided by the late Mr. L. M. Shoobridge at New Norfolk, TAS. lt was opened by the Minister for Health (Dr. J. F. Gaha) Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 13 July 1939 |
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| NEW NORFOLK, TAS, women's crew which won State four-oared championship. They are (I. to r.): Misses B. J Young (stroke), M. Doran (3), E. Russell (2), and E. Lawler (bow). Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 6 March 1939 |
1940s and WWII
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| SISTER E. CLARKA former resident of New Norfolk, TAS, who is serving with the British Red Cross probably in France.Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 4 January 1940 |
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| High St,New Norfolk in Tasmania in 1940 |
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| NEWSPRINT pulp stock flowing on to the pape- machine at the Boyer mill, New Norfolk,Tasmania, last week in the first stage cf production. This was the first newsprint made in Australia. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 6 March 1941 |
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| New Norfolk Fire Station, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 19 August 1941 |
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Mrs Eileen Fox, of New Nor- folk, with Christmas dolls shehas made for sale at the New
Norfolk Comforts Fund shop.Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Wednesday 16 December 1942 |
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| New Norfolk Kindergarten, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Wednesday 16 February 1944 |
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| TASMANIA has its first woman architect. Today, Miss Margaret Keitha Findlay, a New Norfolk girl, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 20 January 1944 |
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| Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 11 September 1945 |
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The home of Mr. L. Pidgeon, which was flooded out when the Derwent overflowed its banksat New Norfolk, TAS, News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Thursday 19 June 1947 |
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| Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 19 January 1948 |
During WWII Norske Skog (formerly Australian Newsprint Mills) established a large newsprint mill at Boyer, downstream from New Norfolk.
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| A new peg factory has been erected on the site of the original buildings, which were destroyed by fire early last year Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Friday 24 June 1949 |
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| Oddfellows'-hall at New Norfolk, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 1 September 1949 |
1950s
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| Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Wednesday 11 July 1951 |
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| New Norfolk Pre-School, teacher reading to children, TAS, 1951, The Tasmanian Archives and The State Library |
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| New Norfolk's Coronation procession, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Wednesday 3 June 1953 |
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| Hop kiln, Valleyfield, New Norfolk, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 25 June 1953 |
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| Bush Hotel, New Norfolk, TAS, Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 25 June 1953, |
1960s
Fire-gutted home of Darcy and Elsie Boyer known as Kilburn Grange.
1980s
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| New Norfolk Library (1980), TAS, Tasmanian Archives and State Library (Commons) |
1990s
In 1990, Derwent Valley Railway
Preservation Society was formed, with its base at New Norfolk.
The Derwent Valley rail line closed beyond New Norfolk in 1995 after heavy rains damaged the track.
2000s
Willow Court (originally Invalid Barracks) operated as an institution until 2000, making it the oldest mental hospital in Australia.
New Norfolk celebrated two hundred years of European settlement in 2008.
Willow Court Barracks to be
turned into arts hub, 2019.
Around New Norfolk
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| The Ladies Cottage, built in 1868, New Norfolk, TAS, was once used as an asylum for women |
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| Royal Derwent Hospital (Willow Court) New Norfolk, Tasmania, built from 1827 ( (originally New Norfolk Insane Asylum and later Lachlan Park) |
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| Old Nurses Quarters Royal Derwent Hospital, New Norfolk, Tasmania |
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| St. Matthews, New Norfolk, TAS, built in 1823 |
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| Valleyfield Oast House at New Norfolk, Tasmania |
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| Valleyfield, New Norfolk, TAS, was built by 1822 and in that year it was licensed as a hotel called the Kings Head Inn |
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| Ruins of mill at Tynwald Willowbend Estate. New Norfolk, TAS |
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| Tynwald Willowbend Estate, New Norfolk, TAS, 1830s |
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| New Norfolk, TAS |
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| Hallgreen, New Norfolk, TAS, built by the town first doctor, Dr Robert Officer from 1823 |
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| Star and Garter Hotel at New Norfolk, TAS, built 1831 |
Things To Do and Places To Go
The Oast House Hop Museum, New Norfolk
New Norfolk Historical Information Centre Committee
