.jpg) A replica ofNorfolk | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Norfolk |
| Launched | 1798 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1800 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 25 (bm) |
The Colonial sloopNorfolk was built onNorfolk Island in 1798. It was wrecked in 1800.
David Collins recorded in hisAccount of the English Colony in New South Wales:"The necessity of a vessel to keep up a more frequent intercourse with Norfolk Island, ...having been much felt by the want of various stores ...occasioned Captain Townson, the Commanding officer, to construct a small decked boat, sloop rigged, in which he sent His letters to this port..."[1][2]Cumpston describesNorfolk as, “A decked longboat built at Norfolk I[sland].”[3]
Governor Hunter put theNorfolk under the command ofMatthew Flinders, the Sailing MasterPeter Hibbs (seaman formerly on the "Sirius"). The vessel was to be used as a survey vessel and in that capacity was used by Flinders andBass in 1798-99 to circumnavigate Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) – proving the existence ofBass Strait. Flinders also tookNorfolk north to chartCook'sMorton's Bay (nowMoreton Bay) and Hervey's Bay (Hervey Bay).[4][5]
It has been speculated that it was unlikely that they usedNorfolk Island Pine as the timber was said to be useless in water, and that it was most likely constructed of timbers from existing boats on the island, perhaps also using surviving timbers from HMSSirius, but Collins said: “The vessel that has the credit of having first circumnavigated Van Diemen’s land was built at Norfolk Island, on the fir of that country, which was found to answer extremely well”.[6]
Norfolk was then used to supply produce from the Windsor Area to Port Jackson, until 1800 when convicts seized her at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Intending to sail her toMaluku, the convicts ran her aground at what was later called "Pirate Point" on the northern side of the mouth to the Hunter River. Today, the point is in the suburb ofStockton.
In 1998–99 Bern Cuthbertson OAM from Sandy Bay,Tasmania, re-enacted all ofNorfolk's journeys in a replica vessel, constructed of TasmaniaHuon andCelery Top pines. The replicaNorfolk is now on display at The Bass and Flinders Centre inGeorge Town on Tasmania'sTamar River.[7]
A limited amount ofsterling silver and 18-caratgold medallions were hand-made to commemorate the voyages of Bern Cuthbertson'sNorfolk. These medallions were mainly given to those that sailed with Bern.
In 2000 theQueensland Place Names Board named Norfolk Point (27°27′03″S153°11′29″E / 27.4508°S 153.1914°E /-27.4508; 153.1914 (Norfolk Point)) which was on reclaimed land in theManly boat harbour inMoreton Bay in honour of Matthew Flinders and the replica's visit. A plaque on the point commemorates the naming.[8][9][10]
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