Norfolk Island is an
external territory of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. It was settled in 1788 as with
New South Wales and despite its small population and size it has developed its own traditions and legends, some slightly different from the mainland. The island was un-populated when settled, though evidence does suggest that it was home to a population of East Polynesians centuries earlier.[1]
Events
HMS Sirius – Sometimes regarded as "Australia's famous shipwreck" Sirius was the
flagship of the
First Fleet and was wrecked upon the reef of Slaughter Bay.
Mutiny on the Bounty – The mutiny of
HMS Bounty. Many islanders can trace their ancestry to mutineers from the ship. Bounty Day is celebrated on the island because of these events.
Norfolk Island convict mutinies – With Norfolk Island being a remote penal settlement, many of the convicts were treated poorly and led insurrections against the British, none more famous than the
Cooking pot uprising.
William Wentworth – Also born on the island, First native born Australian to receive recognition internationally.
William Westwood – Led more than 1600 convicts in a rebellion against the British, due to poor treatment by Major
Joseph Childs.
Traditions
Bounty Day – (See above) An annual holiday celebrated only in Norfolk Island and
Pitcairn Islands, that remembers HMS Bounty.
Foundation Day – The day that marks first settlement in 1788, in which a reenactment is held.
Thanksgiving – The island is one of the few locations outside of North America and the only place in
Australia to celebrate Thanksgiving. The tradition was brought there by American whalers in the mid-1890s.[2]
Other
Canadian website The Paranormal[3] lists Norfolk as No.4 in the world's most haunted islands.[4]