Description

Capital of the Derwent River Valley, New Norfolk’s history is directly linked to a small group of settlers from Norfolk Island.

‘On the 9th of November 1807, the LADY NELSON sailed from Norfolk Island with the first group of settlers to be relocated at the Derwent.   Although it only carried 34 persons, the evacuation from Norfolk Island had begun in earnest.   Certainly one of the most devastating events in the life of the Norfolk Islanders would have been their enforced removal to Van Diemen’s Land.  

The Norfolk families, who were resident for so many years on the balmy sub-tropical Norfolk Island, were thrust into Tasmanian winters, with only the most meagre of shared housing to protect them from the icy winds, rain and frosts.’  

Source: History of New Norfolk, 1807-1900, New Norfolk – Capital of the Derwent Valley

Side note:

In 2015,  heard of the passing of a dear friend, Elysebeth. She was a larger-than-life lover-of-life and lived her life to the full, and rather fabulously!

Stylish, sassy, creative, generous to a fault, and full of warmth, is the best way to describe Elysebeth.

Even after she lost her verbal communication skills following a stroke (aphasia), she created a whole new chapter in her life through her tremendous gift for bringing people together.

Elysebeth relocated from Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, to New Norfolk, Tasmania, in the mid-2000s

I visited Elysebeth in beautiful New Norfolk, and this small painting reminds me of her and of happier times, gone but not forgotten ~ Victoria Kitanov.