1. Norfolk Island is part of Australia but most of the locals don t see themselves as Australian
Many of the citizens of Norfolk Island, classified as an Australian external territory and 1670 kilometres northeast of Sydney, are descendents of the Mutiny on the Bounty incident of 1789. They came here from Pitcairn, the Pacific island where the original mutineers first settled, after life on the tiny, crowded and rocky outcrop became intolerable. And they did so with the approval of Queen Victoria who agreed to their passage in 1858. In contemporary times, with nearly 50 per cent of the population of under 2000 bearing Pitcairn lineage, an ongoing campaign has been waged for self-rule with placards calling for autonomy ubiquitous across the island. Wherever you stand on the issue, it certainly adds considerable interest and flavour to a visit to the island and, of course, despite everything, Australian visitors are warmly welcomed. See thenorfolknavigator.com
News by Hayden Johnson
Premium Content Several islanders raised fears about life under a Queensland regimen after The Courier Mail revealed the state was in talks with the federal government about providing health and education services to the island. An existing deal between Norfolk Island and New South Wales is due to expire in June. Despite little change expected to services and laws on the island, residents have taken to social media to raise concerns about Queensland s proposed service takeover. What little autonomy Norfolk Island may enjoy will be further eroded, one man wrote. NSW walked away after five years as there wasn t enough money in it, another said.