Norfolk Island: history, people, environment, language

Abstract

There are as many opinions as people on Norfolk Island. Situated in a remote location in the South Pacific, there are numerous significant people, events, politics, and even souvenirs that have come from this small island. These differing stories and perspectives about what the island is in terms of its present and past and its people and language is what this book is about. We also hope to describe points of interest for people who might be considering living and working on Norfolk and for any visitor who is interested in looking beyond what appears in most tourist guidebooks. The topics covered give an idea of how the island functions and how people from outside can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the uniqueness of Norfolk society. Norfolk Island is officially an external territory of Australia yet most people, including many Australians, have no idea where it is. Many confuse it with either Fraser Island, a sand island off the coast of Queensland, or Christmas Island, an Australian territory off the north-western coast of Australia in the Indian Ocean. Norfolk Island is a long way from anywhere. Its nearest neighbour, some 800 kms to the north, is New Caledonia, culturally a part of Melanesia. New Zealand lies 1,100 kms to the south, while Australia is 1,700 kms to the west. The only other significant geographical feature near Norfolk is Lord Howe Island, to the west of Norfolk.