DescriptionJoin us for the Second Settlement 1825 200 Year Celebration. Norfolk Island has a unique and wide-ranging history encompassing several hundred years and multiple cultures. This year marks an important milestone in Norfolk’s history. It’s the 200th anniversary of the commencement of the Second British Settlement on 6 June 2025.
Following the Polynesian Settlement which encompassed several hundred years of inhabitance, and an ill-fated British Colonial Settlement which closed in 1814, an 1824 government report into crime in New South Wales advised a harsh settlement was needed for repeat offenders. So, knowing the capabilities of Norfolk Island as a self-sufficient penal settlement, the island was chosen as one of the new locations. Consequently, a colony was re-established on 6 June 1825. The plan was for the island to accommodate the worst of the worst convicts, and soon became known as Hell Island.
This was a dark period in Norfolk’s history. The island became infamous around the world for the harsh treatment that prisoners received.
Immerse yourself in the historic and picturesque ambience of world-heritage listed Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area. Join an in-depth historic tour of the site and visit to the Norfolk Island Museums. The museum staff have been busy creating an exhibition to mark this important anniversary and are proud to unveil it as part of the celebrations. The site tour is with local historians who specialize in the convict era. They’ll provide an informative and entertaining insight into the convict settlement on Norfolk Island. Refreshments will be provided at one of the historic landmarks in the Kingston area.
