First Fleet 1788 Norfolk Island
In the middle of Feb 1788, Lieutenant Philip Gidley King of HMS Sirius, a master’s mate, and surgeon’s mate, with four other men from HMS Sirius, together with some male and female
convicts, embarked per HMAT Supply, and travelled to Norfolk Island, to establish such a settlement. Each year on 6 March, Norfolk Island celebrates Foundation Day, the day in 1788
when Lt Philip Gidley King landed on Norfolk Island to establish the first European settlement on Norfolk Island. See Norfolk Island History Lovers Tour
Encountered by Captain James Cook in Oct 1774, Norfolk Island was settled on 6 Mar 1788, six weeks after the First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove. Cook reported the island had rich soils, tall pines suitable for ships masts and spars, and native flax that could be used for making canvas. Governor Philip had instructions to settle and secure the island as soon as possible to secure its potential naval supplies. Arriving at Norfolk Island aboard His Majesty Armed Tender (HMAT) Supply, Lieutenant Philip Gidley King and a party of nine male and six female convicts, and seven civil staff, established a settlement named Sydney Town later known as Kingston.
Did you know that nearly some 60% of the First Fleet 1788 of convicts, marines, ships crew, ship marines, free people lived on Norfolk Island at some time during the Colonial Settlement 1788 to 1814. Many of our publications include the majority of these First Fleeters:
Print Books
- HMS Sirius Babies and Love Children
- HMS Sirius March 1790
- Marriages November 1791 Norfolk Island: Romance among the Pine Trees
- People, Soldiers and Victualling Book of the Kitty Transport era from Norfolk Island 1793
- Births, Deaths and Marriages: Norfolk Island 1802
- Lady Nelson: Norfolk Island to Hobart February 1808
- Estramina: Norfolk Island to Hobart May 1808
- Inhabitants of Norfolk Island: Late 1808 – 1814
- Closure of Norfolk Island Feb 1814
- Seaman Settlers of Colonial Norfolk Island 1788 – 1814
- Shadows of the Past: 1st Settlement Headstones Norfolk Island Cemetery
Ebooks
- Culprits on Norfolk Island: Golden Grove Ebook
- HM Supply to Norfolk Island March 1789 ebook
- HM Supply Norfolk Island December 1789 and January 1790 ebook
- HMAT Supply Norfolk Island March 1790 ebook
- Ebook: Rev. Henry Fulton’s Baptism, Burial and Marriage records of 1801 – 1806 Norfolk Island
Out of Print
Love and Land: Female Landholders Norfolk Island 1788 – 1814
Norfolk Island landing party 6 March 1788 HMAT Supply
Norfolk Island’s Land Allotments December 1791
Settlers and Landholders Norfolk Island 1793
Turtle Bay Burying Ground Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island Landholders 1794 – 1807
