New Norfolk

New Norfolk (Leenowwenne/palawa kani: wulawali) is a town on the River Derwent, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. With a population of 6,153 in 2021, New Norfolk is the principal township of the Derwent Valley region. Located within the Derwent Valley Council, New Norfolk is situated 32 km north-west of the state capital Hobart on the Lyell Highway and classified as part of the Greater Hobart statistical area.

Established in 1807, New Norfolk ranks as Tasmania's third-oldest European settlement after Hobart and George Town. It was primarily founded by evacuees relocated from Norfolk Island. Known for its colonial history, antique shops, art galleries and craft stores, New Norfolk is home to Tasmania's oldest Anglican church, St. Matthews (erected 1823) and one of Australia's oldest hotels, the Bush Inn (erected 1815), which has continuously traded in the same building since issue of its first licence on 29 September 1825. Several private residences dating from the 1800s to the early 1820s remain intact, including Glen Derwent, Stanton, Valleyfield and Woodbridge. New Norfolk is also popular for its natural beauty, offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and picnicking. Established in 1861, one of the attractions near New Norfolk is the Salmon Ponds, a fish pond considered to be the oldest trout hatchery in the Southern Hemisphere.

New Norfolk has seen substantial investment and redevelopment in recent years, including the $500m residential and community precinct The Mills.

History
The Leenowwenne people, among five Aboriginal tribes in the Big River district, inhabited the area that is present-day New Norfolk. Aboriginal Tasmanians arrived in Tasmania around 40,000 years ago during the last glacial period, utilising a land bridge known as the Bassian Plain between southern Victoria (from Wilsons Promontory to Cape Otway) and the northern Tasmanian shores (from Cape Portland to Cape Grim). As the glacial period ended, rising sea levels submerged the Bassian Plain, forming Bass Strait, which isolated Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples from mainland Australia for approximately 8,000 years before the arrival of Europeans.

In 1793, explorer John Hayes led the first European exploration of the New Norfolk area, navigating the River Derwent aboard the Duke of Clarence and the Duchess of Bengal. When the river became too shallow for his vessels, Hayes rowed to a spot just upstream from the present site of New Norfolk.

Resettlement of Norfolk Islanders
Following the closure of the penal settlement on Norfolk Island, almost half the population of Norfolk Islanders were relocated to Van Diemen's Land. Between 29 November 1807 and 2 October 1808, 544 soldiers, convicts and free settlers were relocated to the settlement of present-day New Norfolk. Many of the free Norfolk Islanders were from farming families, 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 28 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. 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.

The Mapleys in New Norfolk
Richard Mapley (born 1810) of Great Linford moved to Tasmania in 1845, with his wife Fanny and children Joseph, Joshua, Jane, Sarah, Fanny, Mary Anne, Hannah and Thomas joining him in 1849.

They initially settled in Hobart, before moving to New Norwalk/Lachlan up the Derwent River 20 miles from Hobart. New Norfolk, the 3d. planned settlement in Tasmania, had been established in the early 1810's, also known as "The Hills" because of its hills, valleys and gentle streams. The stream "Thames" was renamed "Lachlan" after Governor Macquarie. Richard died there 2 years later in 1851, but his children populated the area to the extent that Mapley Road in Lachlan, 4km. south of New Norfolk, is named after the early families.

First road in Van Diemen's Land
In March 1818, former convict Denis McCarty proposed the construction of a road connecting Hobart Town and New Norfolk to Lieutenant Governor Sorell. This initiative aimed to open up the valley district and facilitate swifter responses to bushranger activities. Initially, McCarty suggested rebuilding a 16 ft carriage road from New Town to Austins Ferry, extending it to New Norfolk in exchange for a 2000 acre land grant. McCarty sought compensation for the 546 pounds worth of goods lost during bushranger raids by securing the road construction contract. To undertake the project, he requested 15 convicts on government provisions for a year, eight bullocks with a cart, a sleeping tent, and road-making tools.

Although McCarty's initial offer was declined, Sorell later reconsidered and invited McCarty to submit a quote for a 24 ft wide carriage road from Hobart Town to Austin's Ferry and a 16 ft carriage road to the Falls in New Norfolk. Despite the absence of a formal contract, McCarty proceeded with three additional convicts and 500 impgal of duty-free rum as compensation for the extra labor. The Hobart Town Gazette observed, 'On Wednesday last, Mr. Dennis McCarty commenced the undertaking, under an agreement with the Government, of opening a road from Hobart Town (via New-town and Austin's farm) to New Norfolk. As this road includes communication with the populous village of New-town and forms the initial ten miles (to the ferry) of the principal road to Port Dalrymple, it is expected to greatly benefit the settlement'.

By June 1819, McCarty reported the completion of the road and sought his reward. In response, Governor Sorell appointed a committee of officers, including Major Thomas Bell, Engineer and Inspector of Public Works, Thomas Archer, and George W. Evans, Deputy Surveyor, to survey and assess the road. The committee found the road in poor condition, lacking adequate drainage and culverts, containing numerous tree stumps, and featuring poorly constructed bridges deemed 'impassable for cattle or carts and even dangerous for single horses'.

Establishment of the Willow Court infirmary
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 Town, Launceston and outstations. Willow Court is now a large antiques centre.

The New Norfolk Post Office opened on 1 June 1832.

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.

The 500-seat Plaza Theatre was constructed on a corner lot on High Street and opened its doors in 1932. Seating increased to 650 after renovations in 1940, however capacity was heavily reduced to 250 in 1971, with the venue utilising only the balcony seating. By March 1986, a new projection box was built and a side entrance was added to an auditorium wall, with the rear stalls and the previous foyer utilised for shopping. In 2016 the building is a Terry White Chemist.

During the 1940s, the Boyer Mill, Australia's first newsprint mill, was established at nearby Boyer, bolstering local industry.

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 major 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 that has not been possible since 2005 due to lack of funding for track maintenance.

New Norfolk is 55 km from Hobart International Airport.

Tourism
New Norfolk is a central location for tourism in the upper Derwent Valley and 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 2021, New Norfolk had won the award for "Top Tourism town" by the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT).

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.



New Norfolk is colloquially known as “the antiques capital of Tasmania” home to many antique shops, including various shops in or off the town's High Street and the large complex in the historical Willow Court precinct.

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