The town’s pioneers were re-settled from Norfolk Island in 1808. They soon farmed the rich land around the town. Hops were introduced in 1846 & soon became an important crop.
New Norfolk is a town on the Derwent River, in the southeast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 35 kilometres (22 mi) north-west of Hobart on the Lyell Highway.
The first road connecting the town to Hobart was built in 1818; the first railway was in 1887. During the 1940s, a newsprint mill was established at nearby Boyer, boosting industry in the local area. The railway is now preserved as the Derwent Valley Railway.
The town was named Elizabeth Town until 1825 when it became officially known as New Norfolk.
In 1827 the New Norfolk Insane Asylum (later known as the Royal Derwent Hospital)was established. Over the next 173 years it served as three of the largest mental institutions in Tasmania.
For some years after 1848, New Norfolk was the place of exile of the Irish nationalist leader Terence MacManus, where his cottage (“The Grange”) still stands. Later they was joined by his fellow Irish rebel William Smith O’Brien.
In 1888 Australia’s first phone trunk call was connected from Hobart to the Bush Inn hotel in New Norfolk.
Derwent River
- Sunrise over the Derwent River
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for “valley thick with oaks”. John Hays placed the name “Derwent River” only in the upper part of the river. Matthew Flinders placed the name on all of the river.
The banks of the Derwent were two times covered by forests and occupied by Aboriginals. European settlers farmed the area and during the 20th century plenty of dams were built on its tributaries.
History
When first explored by Europeans, the lower parts of the picturesque valley were clad in thick she-oak forests, remnants of which remain in various parts of the lower foreshore.
The Derwent River valley was inhabited by the Mouheneener people for at least 8,000 years before British settlement. Evidence of their occupation is found in lots of middens along the banks of the river. The Mouheneener people’s name for the river was Teem.toomele men.en.nye. In 1793, John Hayes named it after the River Derwent, which runs past his birthplace of Bridekirk, Cumberland.
There was a prospering whaling industry until the 1840s when the industry rapidly declined due to over-exploitation.
Geography
- The Derwent River
The massive estuary forms the Port of the City of Hobart – often claimed to be the deepest sheltered harbour in the Southern Hemisphere; some past guests of the port include the HMS Beagle, carrying Charles Darwin, in February, 1836, the USS Enterprise & USS Missouri. The largest vessel to ever travel the Derwent is the 113,000 tonne, 61 metre high, ocean liner ‘Diamond Princess’, which made its first visit in January 2006. At points in its lower reaches the river is two kilometres wide, & as such is the widest river in Tasmania. This is a great contrast to the upper reaches of the Derwent, near the town of Derwent Bridge, where, in summer, the river often slows to a trickle & can be easily crossed with six step.
The river originates at Lake St Clair & flows south over a distance of 187 km to New Norfolk & the estuary portion extends a further 52 km out to sea. Flows average in range from 50 to 140 cubic metres per second. Mean annual flow is 90 cubic metres per second.
Until the construction of several hydroelectric dams between 1934 & 1968, it was liable to frequent flooding. There’s over 20 dams & reservoirs used for the generation of hydro-electricity on the tributaries of the Derwent River, including on the Clyde River, Dee River, Jordan River, Nive River, Ouse River, Plenty River & Styx Rivers. Three lakes have been formed by damming the Derwent & Nive tributary for hydroelectric purposes: Lakes Meadowbank, Cluny, Repulse, Catagunya, Wayatinah, Liapootah & King William. Further other dams & diversions add to this complex process. A substantial part of the dam construction work was performed by Polish & British migrants after World War II. The State of Tasmania is now attempting to diversify its over reliance on power from hydroelectricity, specially thinking about the low storage capacity of the overall Hydro process.
Willow Court
‘Willow Court’ is a superb old stone building which was built as a military hospital in 1830-31 by Major Roger Kelsall. Only one room wide, with wide verandahs and gabled two storey sections at the corners and in the centre, Willow Court was originally conceived by Governor Arthur as a location where invalid convicts could be housed. It was named ‘Willow Court’ because Lady Franklin planted a willow in the courtyard. Willow Court is part of the former Royal Derwent Hospital and is the oldest mental hospital in Australia on its original site. It is a remarkable and simple building of great elegance and character. Susan Piddock wrote an article entitled “The New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane” which gives an excellent account of the history of Willow Court.
Derwent valley Town
New Norfolk is only a 20 mile drive along the Derwent Valley, north from Hobart, situated at the point where the River Derwent starts to widen substantially. New Norfolk was originally called Elizabeth Town but was re-named by Norfolk Island settlers after they abandoned the isolated island in the early 1800′s.
This is another quaint and charming (with an English feel) Tasmanian town with many heritage status buildings. The waterside setting provides scenic walks but the sedate surroundings are contrasted by some of the more active tourist pursuits which include jet boating and water skiing on the Derwent River.
Tasmania Best Kept Secret
New Norfolk is located approximately 30 minutes west of Hobart, on the beautiful Derwent River in Tasmania, Australia. Whether you are planning a 4 week holiday or just want a quick last minute weekend get-away, New Norfolk is the perfect destination to escape from the hectic pace and sit down and enjoy peaceful surroundings. If you enjoy views – we have river views, mountain views and valley views all in the one place! New Norfolk is teeming with historic houses, magnificent rugged scenery, and cool restful places to let yourself unwind.
New Norfolk is centrally located and is a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Mount Field National Park with its rugged beauty and seclusion is only 30 minutes away. The bustling Salamanca market and Tasmania’s capital, Hobart is a 30 minute drive in the other direction.
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