John Hayes is believed to be the first white man to have sighted the area which has since developed as New Norfolk. He had been sent on a journey to investigate new regions for the East India Company, and it was Hayes who named the Derwent Estuary when his ship came upon it. His actual original chart covering the river can still be seen in the archives of the British Admiralty.

In 1804 Denis McCarty arrived in the area and took up 50 acres of land. He had arrived in Australia as an Irish rebel, and had been sent to Van Diemens Land after only a short time in the colony. He built the first house in New Norfolk, having been made a police constable in the area. This house went by the name of Birch Grove Farm. He was keen for a road to be built to Hobart, and undertook the project himself after securing the contract. There was much debate as to whether or not he should be paid for the job, as the authorities were not completely satisfied with the road. This debate remained unresolved, however, as McCarty was the victim of a tragic drowning accident, and had no family to fight his cause.

Governor Macquarie was much impressed with the area following an inspection of it. He saw to it that a town was established, naming the settlement Elizabeth Town after his wife. Macquarie was quite keen on bestowing the names of his family on areas. His son's name was used for a small rivulet which meets the Derwent just by the town.

A group of Norfolk Island folk were evacuated from their homes and transported to Tasmania in 1807. They numbered 34 in total, and arrived on the Lady Nelson. It had been decided in 1806 to completely vacate Norfolk Island due to its isolation and the difficulty in getting supplies through. By 1808, 544 more people had arrived in Elizabeth Town, and the resources of the colony were stretched beyond breaking point, particularly as this was a time of famine in the district.

In 1825, as a sign of respect to all of the displaced Norfolk Islanders, the name Elizabeth Town was withdrawn in favour of the more popular New Norfolk.

One of the first families to own substantial tracts of land in the area was the Terry Family who were granted 100 acres at the intersection of the Lachlan and Derwent Rivers in 1819. John Terry built flour mills, and later branched into hop growing in the 1860s. The family farmed the estate until 1898.

Another family of renowned hop growers, the Shoobridge Family, acquired land in nearby Bushy Park where the hop yields were excellent due to the fertility of the Styx River Valley. Government Farm at New Norfolk was acquired, and here too the yields were excellent. Ebenezer Shoobridge leased this farm and introduced irrigation in 1844.

By the 1860s, many of the other small farmers in the area had diversified into the hop growing industry, and rows of poplar windbreakers and oast houses were dotted around the valley.

Today, New Norfolk (located 33 kilometres from Hobart) has been classified by the National Trust as an historic village. The rows of poplars and oast houses will attest to New Norfolk's early prominence as a hop growing region; however, in recent years the area has become more synonymous with flower growing. The main employer in the area today is the Australian Newsprint Mills at nearby Boyer, which have been in operation since the 1940s, and which employs over 800 locals.

Museums and Historic Sites

There are many historic buildings in New Norfolk which are worth viewing. Particular highlights include St Matthew's Church, which is the oldest Anglican church in Tasmania. Parts of the building actually date back to 1823. It was used initially as a school room as well as a chapel. The Rev. Hugh Robinson was first appointed in 1825, although the church was not consecrated until 1828.

Amongst the features of the church which you will undoubtedly enjoy are the stained glass windows and skilfully carved lectern. The Bush Inn Hotel, built in 1815, has the claim of being the oldest continually licensed hotel in Australia. Tynwald (1830s) is an example of Colonial architecture and the adjacent Oast House, once part of the Lachlan River Mills owned by John Terry, was sold to William Moore in 1898 and today is a museum with a tea room, gallery and arts and crafts centre.

The Old Colony Inn, established in 1835, is also worth a look. Today it houses a museum of early furnishings and other items. There are many other historic buildings which are privately owned and may be viewed only from the road. The Historic and Visitor Information Centre has a comprehensive display of photographs and other historical memorabilia relating to the history of the Derwent Valley.

The Close once served as the Sunday School for children attending St Matthew's Church, and today it has been converted into a folk museum by a group of local volunteers. The Old Watch House Gaol in nearby Granton was built in 1838 to house male and female convicts who worked on the construction of the Bridgewater causeway.

The Toll House marks where the first bridge was built in 1841. Although the bridge has now disappeared, the Toll House still stands as a reminder of those days.

Natural Attractions

The nearby Mount Field National Park has a host of bushwalking trails and plenty of opportunities for nature study, relaxation and photography. Peppermint Hill Lookout allows visitors to gain spectacular vistas of the Derwent Valley and New Norfolk itself. Pulpit Rock Lookout also provides splendid views of the town.

Other Attractions

Tours of the Newsprint Mills in Boyer may be taken with 24 hours notice.

The Salmon Ponds, located 11 kilometres from New Norfolk in Plenty, have a museum and scenic parklands commemorating the site of the breeding grounds of the first trout in the southern hemisphere in 1864.

Russell Falls Trout Farm has 42 ponds and tanks with samples of rainbow trout at varying life cycle stages. Millions of trout eggs are produced at the hatchery for the European market. There is an aquarium, and a special film that can be viewed. Fresh trout can be purchased to take home with you, and the tea room offers the chance to relax.

The more adventurous minded visitor might like to take a jet boat ride on the Derwent River. The Derwent Valley Railway operates trips to nearby Mount Field National Park and Maydena. The Vogelvry Bulbs and Flowers property is open to the public during the last weekend of September and the first and second weekend in October.

Numerous arts and crafts shops are located throughout the town, with some in old buildings such as Oddfellows Antiques, in a building dating from 1891. Handmade Happiness has a selection of gifts, souvenirs and ecocrafts. Natural materials are used in the production of these items, from leather to native plants.

Handmade Happiness is located at 4 Charles Street, phone (002) 61 3628. It is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am until 5pm. On the weekend opening hours alter to 10am until 4pm. Pennyworth has a wonderful array of arts, crafts and old wares located at 93 High Street, and it is open every day from 9am until 4pm.

The Peg Factory is quite a large building which is home to an antique business which attracts buyers from all over Australia. The building itself dates back to 1924, and for fifty years it was engaged in the production of spring and dolly pegs. For further information phone (002) 61 1384.

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