The Colonial sloop ''Norfolk'' was built on

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

in 1798 of

Norfolk Island Pine ''Araucaria heterophylla'' (synonym ''A. excelsa'') is a species of conifer. As its vernacular name Norfolk Island pine (or Norfolk pine) implies, the tree is endemic to Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific ...

. She was wrecked in 1800. :"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..." Cumpston describes ''Norfolk'' as, “A decked longboat built at Norfolk I land” Governor Hunter quickly put ''Norfolk'' under the command of

Matthew Flinders Captain Matthew Flinders (16 March 1774 – 19 July 1814) was a British navigator and cartographer who led the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia, then called New Holland. He is also credited as being the first person to u ...

, the Sailing Master Peter Hibbs (seaman formerly on the "Sirius") Norfolk was to be used as a survey vessel. In 1798-99 ''Norfolk'' was used by Flinders and

Bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

to circumnavigate

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

– proving the existence of

Bass Strait Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The strait provides the most direct waterwa ...

. Flinders also took ''Norfolk'' north to chart Cook's ''Morton's Bay'' (now Moreton Bay) and Hervey's Bay ( Hervey Bay). ''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 to Maluku, 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 of .

Replica

In 1998-99 Bern Cuthbertson OAM from Sandy Bay,

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, re-enacted all of ''Norfolk''s journeys in a replica vessel, constructed of Tasmania Huon and Celery Top pines. The replica ''Norfolk'' is now on display at The Bass and Flinders Centre in George Town on Tasmania's Tamar River. A limited amount of sterling silver and 18-carat

gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...

medallions were hand-made to commemorate the voyages of Bern Cuthbertson's ''Norfolk''. These medallions were mainly given to those that sailed with Bern. In 2000 the

Queensland Place Names Board ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

named Norfolk Point () which was on reclaimed land in the Manly boat harbour in Moreton Bay in honour of Matthew Flinders and the replica's visit. A plaque on the point commemorates the naming.

Affiliations

*TS Norfolk,

Australian Navy Cadets The Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) is a voluntary youth organisation owned and sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. Together with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, it forms the Australian Defence Force Cadets. It host ...

References

{{Navbox shipwrecks of New South Wales 1798 ships Ships built in Norfolk Island Sloops of Australia History of Australia (1788–1850) Maritime incidents in 1800 Napoleonic-era ships Shipwrecks of the Hunter Region 1788–1850 ships of Australia Maritime exploration of Australia History of Newcastle, New South Wales